Harika Dronavalli Age, Wiki and Bio

Harika Dronavalli

Quick Info

ProfessionChess Player
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth12/01/1991
Age33 years
BirthplaceGuntur, Andhra Pradesh

Bio/Wiki

Other NameHarika Dronavalli Chandra
Famous forFIDE title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in 2011

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 7" (170 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolSri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

Personal Life

HometownHyderabad
Food HabitNon-vegetarian
ReligionHinduism
Hobbies
  • Watching movies
  • Reading
  • Cooking
Zodiac signCapricorn

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Marriage Date19/08/2018

Family

FatherRamesh Dronavalli (retired executive engineer)
MotherSwarna Dronavalli
SiblingsSister - Anusha
SpouseKarteek Chandra (businessman)
ChildrenDaughter - Hanvika

Career

Playing StyleAggressive
Coach/Mentor
  • N.V.S. Ramaraju
  • Abhijit Kunte
Achievements
  • 2024: Won the Gaprindashvili Trophy, Vera Menchik Cup and gold medal (team) at the 45th Women's Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary
  • 2019: Padma Shri Award by the Government of India for outstanding performance in Chess
  • 2017: Chess Player of the Year at the Times of India Sports Award (TOISA)
  • 2021: Influential Women Award at FICCI FLO for outstanding contribution in chess
  • 2019: Top-rated Female Player Trophy at the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament
  • 2016: Chess Player of the Year at TOISA
  • 2015: People's Choice Award at TOISA
  • 2011: FIDE Grand Master title - Second Woman Grandmaster in India
  • 2008: Received the Arjuna Award by the Government of India
  • 2007: Achieved FIDE International Master title
  • 2004: Became the youngest Woman Grandmaster in Asia at age 13
  • 2003: Youngest Woman International Master in Asia
Medals
Gold Medals
  • 2024: 45th Women's Chess Olympiad (team)
  • 2016: FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Chengdu, China
  • 2016: Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, UAE (Individual) in Rapid format
  • 2015: FIDE Women's World Blitz Chess Championship in Rome
  • 2014: Top Board (Individual) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship in Iran
  • 2011: Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, Iran
  • 2010: Commonwealth Chess Championship, New Delhi
  • 2009: Top Board (Individual) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, Kolkata
  • 2008: FIDE World Junior Chess Championship, Turkey
  • 2007: Rapid Chess Women at 2nd Asian Indoor Games, Macau
  • 2007: Asian Zonal Chess Championship (Women), Bangladesh
  • 2007: Commonwealth Chess Championship (Women), New Delhi
  • 2006: World Youth Chess Championship U-18 Girls, Georgia
  • 2006: Commonwealth Chess Championship (Women), Mumbai
  • 2004: Commonwealth Chess Championship Under 18 Girls, Mumbai
  • 2004: World Youth Chess Championship U-14 Girls, Greece
  • 2003: Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, Jodhpur (Individual on 4th board)
  • 2002: Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in under-12 and under-18 girls category
Silver Medals
  • 2023: 19th Asian Games (team) in Hangzhou, China
  • 2021: FIDE Women's World Team Championship in Sitges, Spain
  • 2016: Top Board (Individual) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, UAE
  • 2015: Second Board (Individual) at Women's World Chess Championship, China
  • 2014: Standard format (team) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship in Tabriz, Iran
  • 2014: Rapid format (team) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship in Tabriz, Iran
  • 2012: Second Board (Individual) at FIDE Women's World Team Championship, Turkey
  • 2011: Commonwealth Chess Championship (Women) in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2009: 6th Asian Team Chess Championship (Women) in Kolkata
  • 2008: 5th Asian Team Chess Championship (Women) in Visakhapatnam
  • 2007: 2nd Asian Indoor Games (team) in Macau
  • 2005: Asian Junior Chess Championship (Girls), Bikaner
  • 2003: Commonwealth Chess Championship (Women), Mumbai
  • 2003: Asian Chess Championship (Women), Calicut
  • 2001: World Youth Chess Championship in under-12 girls category held in Spain
  • 2001: Asian Chess Championship in under-12 girls category
  • 2000: World Youth Chess Championship in under-10 girls category held in Spain
Bronze Medals
  • 2021: FIDE Online Chess Olympiad
  • 2017: 16th Women's World Chess Championship in Tehran, Iran
  • 2016: Rapid format (team) at Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, UAE
  • 2015: Asian Continental Rapid Championship Women's in UAE
  • 2015: Women's World Chess Championship in Sochi, Russia
  • 2015: FIDE Women Grand Prix, Sharjah
  • 2012: Women's World Chess Championship in Khanty-Mansysk, Russia
  • 2012: 7th Asian Team Chess Championship (women), China
  • 2010: 16th Asian Games, Women's Individual Chess Category, Guangzhou China
  • 2009: Rapid Chess (Individual) in women's category at III Asian Indoor Games, Vietnam
  • 2009: Blitz Chess (Team) at III Asian Indoor Games, Vietnam
  • 2009: Rapid Chess (Team) at III Asian Indoor Games, Vietnam
  • 2007: Classical Chess (Individual) at 2nd Asian Indoor Games, Macau
  • 2003: Asian Women's Team Chess Championship, Jodhpur
  • 2002: World Youth Chess Championship in under-12 girls category held in Greece

Favourites

Chess PlayerJudit Polgár
Snacks
  • Berries
  • Nuts

Style Quotient

Car CollectionJaguar F-Pace

Some Lesser Known Facts

Harika began her chess journey at the age of five with her father's guidance.
She was encouraged to enter competitions by her family friend Rohit Gogineni.
She won a medal in her second national championship at age seven.
Active in professional chess since 1999.
Harika values life experiences over formal education in her learning.
She brings essential cooking items when traveling for tournaments.
Maintains a journal for goal-setting and expense management.
Regularly exercises to maintain focus and refreshment.
Achieved her career-best world ranking of 5 in 2016.
Gave a motivational TEDx talk about chess career lessons in 2019.
Remarkably participated in the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad while nine months pregnant.
As of September 2024, ranked 608 internationally and 43 nationally.