Vignesh N. R. is an Indian chess Grandmaster. Born on 4 July 1998, he hails from Anand, a town in Gujarat, which is known for producing several notable chess players. He learned the game at the age of seven from his school teacher and his father, R. Rameshbabu. He credits a major part of his success to his father, who used to spend a lot of time encouraging him to improve his skills.
Vignesh made notable strides in chess during his teens, winning the Tamil Nadu State Chess Championship for three consecutive times in Under 9, Under 11 and Under 13 categories. His journey in the international arena began when he won the silver medal in the Asian Youth Chess Championship Under 8 category in 2006. He later won the gold medal in the Under 10 category in the same event in China in 2008.
Vignesh officially became a recognised international chess player in 2011, when he achieved his first International Master (IM) norm. He secured his first Grandmaster (GM) norm in the World Junior Chess Championships in Turkey in 2012. He earned his third and final GM norm at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow in February 2018, thus officially becoming a Grandmaster.
Aside from his chess career, Vignesh also maintains a balance with his studies. He is a commerce graduate from Loyola College in Chennai. He is known for his calm and composed demeanor during games. He cites former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand as his idol.