His previous norms came at GM tournaments in Gurgaon and Kolkata in 2009. With this title, Shivananda has become India’s latest IM.

The 34-year-old Shivananda, who hails from Beleyuru of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district, started playing chess at the age of 16. After winning several titles in Karnataka State championships and open tournaments, Shivananda tasted the first big success in 2003 when he won the SK Vaidya memorial open FIDE-rated tournament in Sangli. He has a ILO rating of 2467.

Shivananda, who is a founder director and a Senior coach at the Mangalore Chess Academy, has coached National under-17 champion Stany GA, National Sub-junior bronze medalist and 2009 Commonwealth Gold medallist Yashas D, Commonwealth under-14 silver medallist Shristi J Shetty, former world under-8 champion Ivana Maria Furtado among others.