Aaryan Varshney: Grandmaster without a trainer

1/19/2026 – At first glance, the Andranik Margaryan Memorial, held from 9 to 16 January in Armenia, did not appear particularly historic. Three GMs, six IMs and one FM took part, and with a rating of 2514 the Russian IM Vladislav Nozdrachev was the top seed. In the end, however, it was the 21-year-old Indian Aaryan Varshney who emerged victorious, becoming India’s 92nd grandmaster with this success. His story shows how modern computers, software and databases can help to win titles and celebrate success in chess — even without a trainer or support from federations. | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia