Swara Lakshmi Nair becomes Bengaluru’s first Woman International Master

Bengaluru: In a milestone moment for Karnataka chess, Swara Lakshmi Nair became the State’s second and Bengaluru’s first Woman International Master (WIM) after a draw against IM Krumpacnik Domen from Slovenia in the ninth round of the Ptuj International Masters tournament earlier this month.

Woman Grandmaster Isha Sharma was the first from Karnataka to earn the WIM title in 2019. 

“It’s a great feeling. To be the first from Bengaluru and second in the state, it’s very empowering,” Swara told DH. 

“I’ve been working so much for it, and now it gives me the confidence for my future professional goals to go for the Grandmaster,” she added. 

The 19-year-old achieved her first norm at the Sardinia World Chess festival Open A after her eighth round win over Switzerland’s Gut Rafael in May 2025. She also crossed rating of 2200 Elo points in the same event. 

Swara, who has been crowned Karnataka’s state champion across various age categories, earned her second norm at the Grand Hotel Kielce Open A in Poland in July 2025. 

After achieving the performance rating and the required number of points for the second norm in the seventh round with a draw over FM Daevik Wadhwan, she fulfilled the criteria for the number of titled players in the eighth round, facing IM Marcin Sieciechowicz. 

However, the journey from the second norm to the third was filled with desperation but also one of learning to let go. 

“My second norm, I got it immediately after my first. So I thought that the third would also come soon. So after the second norm, I was a bit desperate. But then later on, I kind of understood after talking to the coaches that if we run behind it, we’ll never get it.”

“So I started focusing on improving my game. I had some pressure but later on, I understood that if I take pressure, I won’t get it.”

Swara currently has a live rating of 2219 and also earned her fourth norm at the Sardinia Festival. She now hopes to cross 2400 points and aspires to become a GM in the future. 

“I’ll be preparing for Asian juniors in September. I am also planning to play in Europe soon and the main aim currently is to cross 2400 Elo points, so I will be working towards that. Then the goal is to become a Grandmaster and take it from there.”