CMVyom Malhotra

Vyom Malhotra made a significant step toward the international-master title at twelve by earning his second norm at the 2026 Czech Open. He started with four consecutive wins before drawing with grandmaster Luca Moroni. His preparation involved grandmasters Shardul Gagare and Debashis Das, while he credits his first coach, Puneet, with sparking his interest in the game. In a ChessBase India interview, he described learning from coach Prasenjit Dutta to accept setbacks as part of a sporting career. When his laptop failed before the tournament, he had to concentrate on playing well at the board instead of depending on last-minute computer preparation. He also acknowledged support from the Chola Chess program and his family.