Ayaan Phutane and Nakshatra Gumudavelly are Karnataka State Under-11 Open and Girls 2026 Champions
Ayaan Phutane scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Karnataka State Under-11 Open Rating Championship 2026. Sragvidha S and Shreyansh Das scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. In the Girls event, Nakshatra Gumudavelly scored an unbeaten 8/9 to become the champion. Saanvika N A scored 7.5/9 to secure second place. Kaushi Kulkarni, Avyukta Nayyar and Hemasree Challagulla scored 7/9 each. They were adjudged third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Top seed domination in both Open and Girls
Top seed, Ayaan Phutane made a perfect start by winning eight games in-a-row. Sragvidha S was the sole pursuer at 7/8. Sragvidha drew against Ayaan and the latter became the champion, the former second. Aravind S R lost to Shreyansh Das who finished third. This is Ayaan’s second overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year.
In the Girls event, the top seed, Nakshatra Gumudavelly gained sole lead 7.5/8, heading into the last round. Sanvitha A Shetty, Rajeshwari Aiyappan and Saanvika N A were trailing by a full point at 6.5/8 each. Niyola Pinto drew against Nakshatra and the latter became the champion. Saanvika defeated Rajeshwari to secure second place. Soukhya K R lost to Kaushi Kulkarni and the latter finished third. This is Nakshatra’s first tournament victory of 2026.
Champion in Open – Ayaan Phutane 8.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Champion in Girls – Nakshatra Gumudavelly 8/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Runner-up in Open – Sragvidha S 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Runner-up in Girls – Saanvika N A 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Second Runner-up in Open – Shreyansh Das 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
Second Runner-up in Girls – Kaushi Kulkarni 7/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
The selected top two for National Under-11 Open: 1st Ayaan Phutane 8.5/9 and 2nd Sragvidha S 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
The selected top two for National Under-11 Girls: 1st Nakshatra Gumudavelly 8/9 and 2nd Saanvika N A 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao’s Chess Corner
For more photos, please click here.
A total of 163 players took part from various districts across the state of Karnataka. The three-day nine-round Under-11 Open Rating tournament was organized by Rao’s Chess Corner at St. Theresa’s School, Bethany Institution, Bendur in Mangalore, Karnataka from 17th to 19th April 2026. The time control of the tournament was 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Final standings in Open
A total of 104 players took part from various districts across the state of Karnataka. The three-day nine-round Under-11 Girls Rating tournament was organized by Rao’s Chess Corner at St. Theresa’s School, Bethany Institution, Bendur in Mangalore, Karnataka from 17th to 19th April 2026. The time control of the tournament was 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Final standings in Girls
Links
Rao’s Chess Corner: Official site, facebook, instagram and youtube
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