GMMurali Karthikeyan

Karthikeyan Murali was born in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and learned chess at five. He won the world under-12 championship in Brazil in 2011. Two years later, he added the world under-16 title in Al Ain. In 2014, he helped India win the World Under-16 Olympiad and completed his grandmaster requirements. FIDE records his GM title in 2015.

He won the Indian championship in 2015 after tying with Vidit Gujrathi, whom he defeated in their individual game. He retained the title in 2016. At the 2019 Gibraltar Masters, he finished second in a field of more than 250 players. He was also runner-up at that year's Asian Championship, where a ninth-move queen sacrifice against Alireza Firouzja led to victory. In 2023, he defeated Magnus Carlsen in classical chess. His later successes included winning the 2025 Biel Masters Open with 8/10. Alongside his playing career, he received support from ONGC and joined Indian Oil as an employee in 2017.