In a gripping contest at the National Sub-Junior Chess Tournament, five players share the lead in the boys’ category after the eighth round, each accumulating six and a half points. Meanwhile, in the girls’ category, Uttar Pradesh’s Female FIDE Master Shubhi Gupta commands with a decisive seven points.
The tournament, held at Anubhuti Residential School in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, witnessed a dramatic encounter between Telangana’s Vignesh and Imran. The battle unfolded in the Sicilian defense’s Lowenthal Kalashnikov style, resulting in a draw after an intense struggle. Assam’s Mayank and Delhi’s Daksh Goyal engaged in a riveting match lasting three and a half hours, where Daksha’s strategic moves and a sensational final position upset the odds against the higher-ranked Mayank.
Surprisingly, despite a substantial international ranking difference of over 600 points, Daksh emerged victorious. In other rounds, Paras, Madhavendra, and Jihan secured wins against Samyak Dhareva, Nimay Garg, and Prathamesh Sherla, respectively.
As the boys’ competition intensifies, Shubhi Gupta capitalizes on the opportunity, claiming an unchallenged lead in the girls’ category. Uttar Pradesh’s FIDE Master leads with 7 points, with Mrittika and Sannidhi trailing at 1.5 points. Four other players share the third position with 6 points, setting the stage for an intriguing finale.
Principal Debashish Das, reflecting on the game’s influence, encouraged participants, recalling the inspiration drawn from Satyajit Ray’s “Shatranj Ke Khiladi.” Controversially, some argue chess requires a rethink, citing Daksh’s surprising triumph over Mayank despite a vast rating difference.
Intense battles unfold in the National Sub-Junior Chess Tournament, with surprises and upsets shaping the competition’s narrative.
