Raahil Mullick who has become India’s latest International Master (IM) at the age of 12

by Suman Gupta

Mumbai 4th December : Twelve year old Raahil Mullick has become India’s latest International Master (IM). At the age of 12 years 5 months and 14 days, Raahil clinched his 3rd and final IM norm at the First Saturday GM Round Robin tournament concluded in Budapest, Hungary in October 2019. Raahil is currently one amongst only three players in the world to achieve the title of International Master amongst players born 2007 or later. To put this into perspective, Magnus Carlsen became an IM at the age of 12 years and 8 months. Raahil has achieved the feat 3 months faster than Magnus!

Four months ago in July 2019, Raahil with no IM norms and a FIDE rating of 2252, began his 2019 chess summer playing in the challenging Alekhine Memorial in Voronezh, Russia. After a difficult tournament in Russia, Raahil showed tremendous maturity beyond his age battling International Masters and Grand Masters rated far above him over the next few months. He made his first IM norm at a closed Round Robin tournament in Serbia in July 2019 where he finished with a Gold and First position in the tournament. His second IM norm came at the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival in August 2019 where he surprised observers by beating two 2600+ rated GMs in the event.

Raahil is currently the youngest International Master from Maharashtra. He attends the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai where he has received tremendous support for pursuing his passion for chess. Raahil has been coaching with IM Prathamesh Mokal since 2015. His current LIVE rating of 2424 places him in the Top 100 amongst all Indian chess players, the first time he has broken into this list.