19/08/2026
Just incredible!! FM Jihan Tejas Shah from Gujarat, India scores two IM norms in just fourteen days.
Born in 2009, Jihan Tejas Shah scores his maiden IM norm at the First Saturday Budapest IM B group, which he played from August 1st to the 8th. He scored an unbeaten seven points out of a possible nine which not only made him win the tournament but also achieve his first IM norm. He also gained 97.6 ELO.
Immediately after the tournament ended, he played the Budapest One Week August IM A tournament from the 8th of August to the 14th and scored his second IM norm. He played some fantastic chess to finish second in the tournament by scoring an unbeaten 7/9 and gaining 49.8 ELO.
What's most special in this feat is that he played eighteen classical games in fourteen consecutive days to achieve the two norm and also some hefty ELO.
His mother shares his story - Jihan Started Playing Chess at the age of eleven. He just started as an extra curricular activity. But day by day his interest in the game became very strong and that's where the game of chess captured a special place in his heart.
First, he took chess coaching for one year from Dhaval Shah Sir at his Institute. After that, he took personal coaching from Nirmal Bodiwala sir for Middle game and End game from Ketan Chopada sir from Surat. He is Learning Opening from Joy Chauhan sir and Hemal Thanku sir from Ahmedabad. Currently he is learning from IM krishna CRG and all of them have been great supporter for his journey. He is also attending camps and takes coaching in CHOLA Chess academy.
At the end of 2021 , In December month he played his very first Fide tournament and at 1st Jan 2022 he has opened the rating with 1682 .
His progress was also amazing as he played National Championships where till date he has achieved three silver medals.
He has Won state Championship many times . He has Represented India in World sub junior in Brazil.
He works very hard for chess. He was going to regular school and them he got fully focused on chess and drops regular school and just give exams. Approximately he works 7-8 hours for chess despite of being currently studying in 12th Standard and having boards exam
Right now we can say that his whole life evolves around just one thing that is CHESS. All the time just thinking how will u get better and better and achieve my future goal.
Definitely his Dream is to become the one of the Greatest GM ( Grand Master) and becoming World Champion obviously.
He has also got a goods supporting Person like Nirmal Bodiwala sir, Aagam Erramilli sir and Prashant Raval sir from surat who are supporting him at each and every step with proper guidance and all.
And most Importantly huge thanks to AICF President Mr. Bhavesh patel sir from Gujarat who has constant supporter of him and encouraged him to do lot of bigger thing in his life.
Thanks to his mother for sharing the wonderful photos and the journey of Jihaan. Wishing him, his family, coaches and supporters all the best.
