Arjun Vishnuvardhan

Who is Arjun Vishnuvardhan?

Chirukandath Manoj Arjun Vishnuvardhan, generally known as Arjun Vishnuvardhan, is an Indian chess player who is an International Master in the United States of America. At his 15 years of age, in May 2006, he became the National Game-60 Chess Champion of the entire United States, by beating International Master Edward Formanek. This victory over the top International Master made Arjun to become the youngest National Game 60 Champion of the United States. One month before his 17th birthday, Arjun became the youngest ever Keralite to become an International Master.

Arjun was born in Kerala, India and started playing chess when he was 8 years old. He was the State Champion for Under-18 years and Under-9 years. He posted the National record in India in the year of 2000, by becoming the youngest International FIDE rated player of the country.

In 2001, he won the British Junior Under-11 Championship held at Scarborough, United Kingdom. In 2002, Arjun won the Under-16 Youth Championship from Middle East. When he was 11, he beat Uzbekistani Grandmaster Saidali Iuldachev in a simultaneous chess exhibition held in the United Arab Emirates, thus becoming the youngest ever Indian chess player to defeat a grandmaster in a chess simultaneous exhibition held outside India.