Pranav Venkatesh: India’s Newest World Junior Chess Champion
India has another young chess prodigy making waves on the international stage. Eighteen-year-old Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh has been crowned the World Junior Chess Champion 2025 in the open section, showcasing his exceptional talent and skill on the 64 squares in Petrovac, Montenegro.
Pranav’s victory came after a grueling competition against 157 players from 63 countries, including 12 grandmasters. His final match against Matic Lavrencic ended in a draw, securing him a score of 9 out of 11 points and the coveted championship trophy.
This achievement marks Pranav as the seventh world junior champion from India, following in the footsteps of legendary players like Viswanathan Anand, Koneru Humpy, and Abhijeet Gupta. Trained at the Vellamal Institute in Chennai and mentored at the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA) by Anand himself, Pranav has shown remarkable growth and determination in his chess career.
Notable for his resourcefulness and tenacity on the board, Pranav has impressed chess enthusiasts worldwide with his performances, including a victory over World No.1 Magnus Carlsen in an online game. His recent success at the European Club Cup and the World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship further solidify his position as a rising star in the chess world.
With players like Pranav Venkatesh and Aravindh Chithambaram achieving significant victories on the same day, Indian chess is experiencing a resurgence of talent and potential. As the chess community celebrates Pranav’s remarkable win, the future looks bright for the young grandmaster and the Indian chess scene as a whole.