Madhvendra Pratap Sharma and Aaradhya Das are 39th National Under-13 Open and Girls 2026 Champions
FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma and WCM Aaradhya Das scored an unbeaten 10/11 and 9.5/11 each respectively to win 39th National Under-13 Open and Girls Chess Championships 2026.
Madhvendra’s fifth, Aaradhya’s first National triumph of their career
The top seed of the tournament, FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (MP) was the sole leader at 9.5/10, heading into the final round. Avirat Chauhan (MAH) was the only pursuer at 9/10. Abhinav Anand (KAR) drew against Madhvendra and the latter became a clear champion. Avirat shared the point with Mehul Sondhi (DEL) to secure second place scoring 9.5/11. Advik Reddy Moate (TEL) defeated CM Darshan G (TN) to finish third 9/11.
This is Madhvendra’s fifth National title – AICF National Under-8 Open Online 2021, 10th National Schools Under-9 Open 2022, 35th National Under-9 Open 2022, 37th National Under-11 Open 2024 and now 39th National Under-13 Open 2026.
In the Girls event, WCM Aaradhya Das (TRI) and Janaki S D (KER) were the coleaders at 8.5/10 each, going into the last round. Half a dozen players – WCM Aadya Gowda (KAR), Dishita Dey (WB), Pavithra R V (TN), WCM R Pooja Shree (TN), WCM Nakshatra Gumudavelly (KAR) and WCM Vedika Pal (RAJ) were trailing by a half point at 8/10 each. Janaki lost to Aaradhya and the latter became a clear champion. Aadya defeated Pavithra to secure second place with 9/11. Pooja Shree won against Nakshatra to finish third also scoring 9/11.
The total prize fund was ₹800000, ₹400000 each in Open and Girls event. The top three prizes were ₹80000, ₹60000 and ₹48000 along with a trophy each.
Champion in Open – FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (MP) 10/11
Champion in Girls – WCM Aaradhya Das (TRI) 9.5/11
Runner-up in Open – Avirat Chauhan (MAH) 9.5/11
Second Runner-up in Open – FM Advik Reddy Moate (TEL) 9/11
Second Runner-up in Girls – WCM R Pooja Shree (TN) 9/11 | Photo: Viyugam Chess Academy
Top 3 in Open and Girls (L to R): 3rd Advik Reddy Moate (TEL) 9/11, 2nd Avirat Chauhan (MAH) 9.5/11, 1st FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (MP) 10/11, 1st WCM Aaradhya Das (TRI) 9.5/11, 2nd WCM Aadya Gowda (KAR) 9/11 and 3rd WCM R Pooja Shree (TN) 9/11
Avirat – Madhvendra, Round 7
Position after 39…f3
In a complex bishop vs knight endgame, Avirat Chauhan (MAH, 2356) went wrong 40.Be5?? Nd5-+ 41.h3 f6 42.Bg3 Kf5 43.a4 Nb6 44.Ke3?? was the final mistake by White. His opponent, FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (MP, 2370) had no trouble seizing his opportunity 44…Nxa4-+ and went on to convert it into a win.
FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma scored an unbeaten 10/11, finished a half point ahead of the rest and increased his Elo rating by 19.4 points
Aaradhya – Aadya, Round 10
Position after 30…Bd5??
31.b4 Bxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Qxa4 would have been winning for White. It is understandable that WCM Aaradhya Das (TRI, 1944) probably did not want to risk it in the penultimate round against the top seed and eventual runner-up, WCM Aadya Gowda (KAR, 1993). The game continued 31.Rf4 Be6 32.Rfd4 Rgd8? 33.Qe4 Qc5 34.h3 Qc6 35.Qe3 f6?? 36.exf6+- Rxd6 37.Rxd6 Rxd6 38.Qe5 Bd5 39.f7 Ka7 40.f8Q Bxg2+ 41.Kh2 Bh1 42.Qf2+ and White soon. With this win, Aaradhya defeated the sole leader Aadya and got herself in colead with Janaki S D (KER). Aaradhya defeated Janaki in the final round to become a clear champion.
WCM Aaradhya Das scored an unbeaten 9.5/11, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 61.2 Elo rating points
Replay all available Open games
Replay all available Girls games
A total of 470 players took part from 29 states and union territories across the country. The seven-day eleven-round Rating tournament was organized by Pondicherry Chess Association at Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School in Pondicherry from 3rd to 9th September 2026. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
A total of 224 players took part from 26 states and union territories across the country. The seven-day eleven-round Rating tournament was organized by Pondicherry Chess Association at Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School in Pondicherry from 3rd to 9th September 2026. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Leave a Reply