Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: Soham Kamotra has etched his name in history as the first chess player from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve the prestigious International Master (IM) title. The 20-year-old crossed the significant Elo rating threshold of 2400 at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2024, cementing his place among the elite in Indian chess.
Soham’s journey to the IM title has been marked by consistent progress and determination. He achieved his first IM norm at the Abu Dhabi Masters in 2022. The following year, he secured his second norm at the Hanoi GM Round Robin in Vietnam. His third and final norm came at the Odisha GM International in 2024. From being an Elo 2000-rated player in 2018 to surpassing the 2400 mark, Soham’s rapid rise over six years is a testament to his hard work and perseverance.
A former under-18 national champion, Soham has shown exceptional dedication to his craft. He has been trained by prominent coaches such as Vivek Bharti from Jammu and Sumit Grover and currently works regularly with Grandmaster Swapnil Dhopade. He has also benefited from a training camp conducted by Grandmaster Shyam Sundar.
His coach Swapnil Dhopade told media “Soham has faced many ups and downs in his career, but his persistence and strength have been his greatest assets. He is a huge talent and, with continued dedication, is well on his way to becoming a Grandmaster.” Soham’s achievement is expected to inspire a new generation of chess enthusiasts in Jammu and Kashmir, further boosting the chess culture in the region.
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