SportsMadras State (Congress era)
Manuel Aaron becomes India's first International Master
· Chennai
Madras chess player Manuel Aaron became the first Indian to earn the FIDE title of International Master.
Manuel Aaron, a chess player based in Madras, earned the FIDE title of International Master in 1961 after winning zonal qualifying matches. He was the first Indian player to receive the title. In 1962 he became the first chess player to receive the Arjuna Award. He won the national championship nine times between 1959 and 1981 and helped build the chess culture in Tamil Nadu.
