Young Chess Prodigy Joins 39th National Under‑11 Championship in Mangaluru

On a crisp Sunday morning, the Urwa Indoor Stadium in Mangaluru buzzed with the quiet intensity that only a chess tournament can generate. Over 600 kids, representing 29 states, took their seats for the 39th National Under‑11 Open and Girls FIDE‑rated Chess Championship. The event, slated to run until the following Saturday, promises eleven grueling rounds, each game stretching up to four hours.

Among the sea of eager faces, one name stood out: Divi Bijesh, the 11‑year‑old prodigy from Kerala who clinched the under‑12 title at the FIDE World Cup in Georgia earlier this year. With a FIDE rating of 2006, Bijesh entered the championship with a quiet confidence, ready to test his mettle against the country’s brightest youngsters.

His opening opponent was Aadhya Deo from Tripura, rated 1471. The match set the tone for the day – a blend of youthful vigor and calculated strategy. Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, several other high‑rated players drew attention. Yakshini P., sporting a rating of 1819, faced Anushka Manoj Kumar of Telangana (1471). In another board, Karnataka’s candidate master Nakshatra Gumudavelly (1816) was paired against Tamil Nadu’s Yuktha R. (1470).

The boys’ bracket featured a dazzling array of talent as well. Maharashtra’s 11‑year‑old FIDE Master Advik Amit Agrawal, whose rating tops out at 2376, took on 10‑year‑old Adithya Sreejith from Kerala (1532). West Bengal’s FM Sarbartho Mani (2273) met Maharashtra’s Reyansh Kamerkar (1532), while Telangana’s Nidhish Shyamal (2219) went head‑to‑head with Karnataka’s Shawn Joy (1531).

Presiding over the matches was International Arbiter V. Vijayaraghavan, acting as chief arbiter, assisted by IAs Ajesh Kumar A. and Prashant Raval. Their steady oversight ensured that each game unfolded fairly, respecting the rigorous standards of FIDE‑rated competition.

Beyond the board, the ceremony was marked by a symbolic gesture: Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and Grandmaster Thejkumar M.S. made the inaugural opening moves, a nod to the city’s growing enthusiasm for chess.

As the tournament progresses, spectators and participants alike will watch closely to see whether the young champion from Kerala can replicate his world‑cup brilliance on home soil, and which of the rising stars will emerge as India’s next chess sensation.