Indian chess prodigies are gearing up to make their mark as they are set to come in full force for the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships, set to take place on October 11 in Tagaytay City, Philippines. Representing India are seven boys and six girls, all inspired by their recent double triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
Leading the Indian boys is second seed International Master (IM) Krishna Rohith, boasting an impressive rating of 2474. Close on his heels is third seed IM Aswath S, rated 2473. The lineup continues with 5th seed Candidate Master (CM) Bharadia Yas (2415), 8th seed IM Manish Anto Cristiano (2364), and 9th seed FIDE Master (FM) Adireddy Arjun (2342). Completing the roster are CM Velavaa Ragavesh (2060) and Akshat Sureka (2008), both hungry to prove themselves on this international stage.
The competition will be fierce, with top seed Grandmaster (GM) Aleksey Grebnev of Russia (rated 2530) playing under the neutral FIDE flag. The Philippines will also be represented by its top junior, IM Michael Concio Jr., with a rating of 2368, adding a local dimension to the tournament’s competitive atmosphere.
On the girls’ side, India’s new Woman International Master (WIM) Tejaswani G., rated 2135, is the second seed. Joining her are 4th seed Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Shubhi Gupta (2013), 5th seed Sneha Halder (1990), 8th seed WFM Bristy Mukherjee (1965), and Khairmode Dhanashree (1876), all eager to put up a solid fight.
The top seed in the girls’ division is Woman International Master Anna Shukhman of Russia, also competing under the neutral FIDE flag.
Tournament Format and Stakes The Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships are organized as 9-round Swiss System tournaments, with separate categories for boys and girls. For the participants, much is at stake: the gold medalists will have the chance to earn norms toward Grandmaster (GM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) titles. In addition, players who finish in the top three after tie-breaks will be awarded the titles of IM/WIM, while silver and bronze medalists will receive IM/WIM norms and FM/WFM titles according to FIDE regulations.
Event Organizers and Information This prestigious event is being hosted by the Tagaytay Chess Club, Inc., under the supervision of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Asian Chess Federation, and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. The City of Tagaytay, alongside the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission, is co-sponsoring the event.
For details or inquiries, interested players may contact Patrick Lee at 09455575690.
