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Geetha Narayanan Gopal

Geetha Narayanan Gopal
Full name Geetha Narayanan Gopal
Country India
Born 29 March 1989 (age 26)
Muvattupuzha, India
Title Grandmaster
Peak rating 2611 (July 2010)

G.N. Gopal (born 29 March 1989) is an Indian Chess Grand Master from Cochin, Kerala. He was initiated to chess by his father at the age of 10. Gopal became Kerala's first Grand Master in 2007 at 18 and International Master on December 25, 2006 at 17. Like World Champion Viswanathan Anand's phenomena in the country, Gopal effect has popularized chess in Kerala.

According to the leading national daily, The Hindu - Gopal’s achievement is unique since he became a GM within just eight years of taking up the game.

According to the leading national daily, The Hindu - G.N. Gopal walked quietly into the history books. He became Kerala's first-ever International Master (IM) in chess.

Early life

Gopal was born in a Nair family in Muvattupuzha as the Second son of Prof B. Narayana Pillai and Prof Geetha Prakasini. He has an elder brother Gokul who is a Computer Engineer.

Gopal started chess at the age of 10. He won his first national Championship in Under 12 Rapid, Chandigarh, 2001. He became the National Junior champion at the age of 15 in 2004. He won his first international championship in his first international exposure in 2003 in Dubai Juniors, Dubai.

Personal life

Gopal is working as Executive (Sports) in Bharat Petroleum. He lives in Aluva.

Recognition

He received the prestigious Tigran Mets Medal during the Lake Sevan 2007 where he was the joint winner. "The Tigran Mets Medal" is a highly prestigious and very special honor of the Republic of Armenia.

When Gopal won his first national title in Chandigarh 2001, former Justice of Supreme court of India Hon. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer blessed him: "Gopal is a blossoming genius in chess and would emerge one day as world's no. 1."

Key achievements

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