Aravindh Chithambaram is an Indian chess Grandmaster. He was born on September 11, 1999, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. He is considered one of the most talented young players globally, and he has been called the "next Vishy Anand" by the media, referring to the former World Chess Champion from India.
Chithambaram earned his International Master title in 2012 and his Grandmaster title in 2014. He has several notable victories under his belt. He became the Under-18 World Youth Chess champion in 2012. In 2013, he won the Chennai Grandmaster International Open Chess Tournament as well as the India National Premier Chess Championship, where he defeated several high-ranking competitors. He also won the Chennai Super Kings International Grandmaster tournament in 2014.
Apart from his playing career, Chithambaram's personal life has also become a focal point. His family faced severe financial difficulties, often not being able to afford meals. Despite this, he pursued a successful career in chess with the support of his mother, who sold her jewelry to provide for his chess training. His father passed away when he was young. He has been widely appreciated for his sheer determination and perseverance in the face of adversity.
In 2017 Chithambaram won the fourth spot in the "A" group of the Aeroflot Open, which is a major international chess tournament. Also, he represented India in the Chess Olympiad in 2018, where he made significant contributions leading India to finish 6th in the tournament.