PANAJI: Goan chess star and Geno Pharmaceuticals brand ambassador, Nitish Belurkar has achieved International Master title.
Playing in Budapest-Hungary, Belurkar held GM Kovalev Andrei of Belarus to a draw in the 4th round to reach live rating of 2400 ELO rating points to achieve the IM title. “After having to wait for 18 months due to the pandemic, I am happy to achieve the International Master title here in Budapest,” Nitish told www.livenewsgoa.com from Hungary. “I hope to achieve the GM norms and GM title soon,” he added.
Nitish had earlier achieved five IM norms at Olumuc, Czech Republic, Novi Sad, Serbia, Abu Dabhi International Masters tournament, Abu Dabhi, International Tournament, Moscow, Russia and VezerKepzo GM tournament, Budapest, Hungary.
Nitish had missed competitive chess since March 2020, due to the pandemic but he continued from where he had left to achieve the required ELO rating points. Earlier last week, participating in Vezerkepzo GM tournament in Hungary, Nitish had achieved his fifth IM norm and had gained 25.2 ELO rating points with victories over GMs and IMs.
