GR Divya Deshmukh Inaugurates U-7 National Chess Championship in Nagpur: Opening Day Upsets and Highlights

GR Divya Deshmukh Inaugurates U-7 National Chess Championship in Nagpur

Nagpur: The U-7 National Chess Championships kicked off with a bang on Tuesday at the GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, marking the event’s return to Nagpur after a 19-year hiatus. The championship was inaugurated by none other than Women’s World Cup champion and the city’s third Grandmaster, Divya Deshmukh, who made the ceremonial first move.

As excitement filled the air, young chess enthusiasts and their families gathered to witness the opening ceremony, where Divya shared her experiences from age-category national tournaments. Her presence not only inspired the budding players but also attracted a flurry of parents eager to capture selfies with the World Junior No. 1 in the girls’ section.

The opening day saw its first major upset when Rudranil Karmakar from West Bengal stunned Andhra Pradesh’s third seed, Dharmik Panchakatla, in a gripping match. After his unexpected loss, Dharmik managed to hold Tamil Nadu’s Umar Abdul Aziz to a draw in the second round, while other seeded players secured victories to maintain their momentum.

In the Open group’s second round, top seed Vislavath Lavik showcased his prowess by decisively defeating Aveer Shah. Meanwhile, girls’ top seed Udhriti Bhattacharya triumphed over Ishanvi Rajbongshi, both sharing the lead as the competition heated up.

The inauguration ceremony also featured notable figures, including Parineeta Fuke, Vivek Kapur, vice chancellor of GH Raisoni Skill Tech University, and AK Verma, chief administrative officer of the All India Chess Federation, who shared the dais with Divya.

As the nine-round championship unfolds, the anticipation continues to build, with young talents eager to make their mark on the national stage. The event promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill and strategy, setting the tone for an exciting week ahead in Nagpur.

Results (Round 2)

Open:

• Vislavath Lavik (2) bt Aveer Shah (1)
• Ayaansh Fuller (1) lost to Sathwik Bhat (2)
• Badana Duvanth (1) lost to Shivansh Basu (2)
• Aksh Shrivastava (2) bt Daksh Kathrani (1)
• Bejugam Gupta (1) lost to Rudra Pratap (2)
• Daniel Lakra (1) lost to Ivaan Dubey (2)
• Joshua Katarapu (2) bt Devaditya Jain (1)
• Akshath Chowhan (2) bt Devvishwar R (1)
• Pugazh Vinoth (1) lost to Dhruv Ponnoth (2)
• Vivaan Kadam (2) bt Divyansh Pruthi (1)

Girls:

• Udhriti Bhattacharya (2) bt Ishanvi Rajbongshi (1)
• Tanishqa Jain (1) lost to Aarini Lahoty (2)
• Aaditri Majumdar (2) bt Jaahnavi Manohar (1)
• Mugdha Kelkar (1) lost to Shazwa Shaik (2)
• Navya R (2) bt Niyara Reddy (1)
• Pakhi Patel (1) lost to Aaradhya Kommery (2)
• Dia Baisnab (2) bt Parjanyaa Borah (1)
• Pranave Sri (1) lost to Liyaa Krishnan (2)
• Rayanika Shivaram (2) bt Prajakta Dhar (1)
• Prisha Shikeria (2) bt Aashvi VA (1)

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the young chess prodigies as they vie for the coveted title in this prestigious championship.