Telangana’s Dhruva Thota becomes State’s 13th International Master in chess

Sixteen-year-old Dhruva Thota from Telangana has become the State’s 13th International Master in chess, achieving four IM norms across Europe. With a FIDE rating of 2411, he now seeks financial support to pursue his dream of becoming a Grandmaster

Hyderabad: Dhruva Thota, a 16-year-old student from Telangana, has become the State’s 13th International Master (IM). Dhruva, a student of Pallavi International School, is being coached at Maestro Chess Academy.

Dhruva’s path to IM status began with a championship win and his first IM norm at the Six Days Budapest IM Tournament in Hungary (Nov 2023). He followed up with his second norm at the Chessable Sunway Sitges International Tournament in Spain (Dec 2023), finishing 18th among top contenders.

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His third IM norm and a prize-winning performance came at the Annemasse Chess Tournament in France (Oct 2025), where he finished 13th overall. Most recently, Dhruva claimed his fourth IM norm and the tournament champion’s title at the Rudar XLIII IM Norm Round Robin (Nov 2025), boosting his FIDE rating to an impressive 2411.

Consistent Growth From a young age, Dhruva has shown unwavering commitment and skill, excelling against highly competitive international fields, including the Abu Dhabi Masters and Fujairah Global Masters in the UAE, as well as chess events in Spain and India.

His victories against Grandmasters and International Masters have showcased tactical brilliance. He also represented India at the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship in Italy, placing 18th among 180 players from 80 countries.

As Dhruva aims for the coveted Grandmaster (GM) title, the journey ahead calls for substantial resources. Elite-level progress demands regular international competition and world-class coaching from Grandmasters—necessities that come with significant financial challenges. Dhruva has appealed for financial support from the Government and corporate sector to realise his next big goal of becoming a Grandmaster.