Aswath S Wins Serbia Open 2026 Just After Becoming India's 98th Grandmaster
Float Chess News | 25th July 2026
Young Indian chess sensation Aswath S has secured a phenomenal victory at the Serbia Open 2026 (Masters) tournament, just days after officially achieving all requirements for his Grandmaster title.
Aswath delivered a stellar performance throughout the event, finishing with an unbeaten score of 7.5 points out of 9 rounds. Facing a highly competitive field that included several experienced grandmasters and international masters, the newly minted Indian GM demonstrated mature positional chess and tactical precision.
The critical breakthrough came in the penultimate round when Aswath played a masterful endgame against top-seeded Serbian Grandmaster Ivan Ivanisevic. Opting for a Grunfeld Defense with the black pieces, Aswath equalized quickly in the middlegame and gradually turned a minor positional advantage into a winning rook endgame. His flawless conversion of the passed a-pawn forced resignation after 52 moves.
In the final round, Aswath played a solid game with White, securing a comfortable draw to clinch the title clear first.
This victory comes right on the heels of the tournament in Budapest where Aswath earned his final GM norm, making him India's 98th Grandmaster. His rapid rise over the past twelve months highlights the immense depth of talent emerging from India, which has become a dominant force in international chess.
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