Commentator or a Strong GM? Harshit Raja’s Inspiring Run at the Saint Louis Masters 2026
After a small break, Grandmaster Harshit Raja made a fine return to Classical chess at the Saint Louis Masters 2026, an elite invitational tournament featuring a powerhouse lineup of just 100 players. Facing a gauntlet of opponents with an average rating of nearly 2580, Harshit proved what a strong player he is, leading to a performance rating of 2600+ and a gain of 13 Elo points. From daring "coffee house complications" against Oparin to a strategic masterclass in the Najdorf, Harshit shares the insights behind his "chill" and inspired approach to the game. It's quite inspiring how the GM from Pune is balancing his careers as a commentator as well as a player.
Interview with GM Harshit Raja after Saint Louis Masters 2026
Sagar Shah (SS): Harshit, congratulations on a fantastic performance! The Saint Louis Masters 2026 was a powerhouse event. Tell us about the atmosphere and the level of competition you faced.
Harshit Raja (HR): Thank you! It was an insanely strong tournament. When you see a lineup with names like Fabi (Fabiano Caruana) and Andy Woodward, you know it's elite. It was an invitational event limited to just 100 players, and the strength was evident—my average opponent rating was around 2570 or 2580.
SS: You gained 13 Elo points and finished with a performance rating of 2600+. Walk us through your results.
HR: I was playing very solid throughout. My final tally included a win against Robby Kevlishvili, a loss to Varuzhan Akobian, and seven draws against a very tough field, including Abhimanyu Mishra, Grigoriy Oparin, Alexander Fier and others. My main strategy for this event was to try and play safe and stable, which worked out well for the most part.
SS: Your game against Grigoriy Oparin was a tactical rollercoaster. You mentioned choosing "coffee house complications" over strategic chess. Why was that?
HR: Gregory is a friend from university, and I knew he had prepared something specifically for me because he played a rare line early on. I felt that if I played pure strategic chess, he is much better than me. So, I played the strange move Qe3 to intentionally "muddy the waters" and create complications.
Harshit Raja vs Grigoriy Oparin, Round 8
The most critical moment was my move Qd2, where I intentionally gave up my b2 pawn with a check.
I spent about 10 minutes calculating it and realized that if he took the pawn (Bxb2+), I had winning ideas like f4 followed by f3 to deflect his queen. Eventually Grigoriy found an incredible defensive resource with h6 (later in the game), which led to a perpetual draw.
SS: You also had a very smooth win in the Sicilian Najdorf against Robby Kevlishvili. How are you handling the opening preparation against these active pros?
HR: To be honest, openings are my biggest problem because I’m not as active as these other players. However, I’ve found that once I get out of the opening, I can fight on equal terms with them. In that Najdorf, I was ecstatic to get such a good position with Black after only 13 moves. I stayed patient, didn't get greedy for pawns, and maintained strategic control until the win.
SS: Many fans know you now as a commentator. How has that role impacted your perspective as a player?
HR: It has actually made me much more "chill" when I play. My friend Aryan (Tari), who was supporting me there, noted that I seem more inspired and calm after doing commentary. I’ve realized I enjoy this mix. If chess were my sole livelihood, the pressure of a bad result—like losing a final round and missing a prize—would be too much to handle. I prefer playing once in a while and truly enjoying the game.
SS: What’s next on your calendar for 2026?
HR: This year is interesting because there are fewer freestyle events, but we have the Olympiad, the Candidates, and the World Championship. I still need to fill up my calendar and figure out which events to cover and which to play. For now, I’m just happy to be back near my original strength and competing decently against some fine opponents!
Final standings
Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | GM | USA | 2591 | 7,5 | |
2 | 1 | GM | USA | 2795 | 7 | |
3 | 12 | GM | ITA | 2590 | 6,5 | |
4 | 3 | GM | IND | 2641 | 6 | |
5 | 4 | GM | IND | 2631 | 6 | |
6 | 13 | GM | USA | 2587 | 6 | |
7 | 18 | GM | ITA | 2561 | 6 | |
8 | 50 | IM | USA | 2433 | 6 | |
9 | 5 | GM | USA | 2629 | 5,5 | |
10 | 6 | GM | AZE | 2612 | 5,5 | |
11 | 7 | GM | USA | 2608 | 5,5 | |
12 | 17 | GM | CUB | 2562 | 5,5 | |
13 | 20 | GM | USA | 2549 | 5,5 | |
14 | 21 | GM | LTU | 2547 | 5,5 | |
15 | 23 | GM | MNE | 2540 | 5,5 | |
16 | 30 | GM | HUN | 2515 | 5,5 | |
17 | 40 | IM | USA | 2485 | 5,5 | |
18 | 48 | IM | CAN | 2441 | 5,5 | |
19 | 2 | GM | USA | 2658 | 5 | |
20 | 9 | GM | IND | 2595 | 5 |
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