The 54th National Junior Under-19 Chess Championship 2025 concluded successfully in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, marking another highly competitive edition of India’s premier junior chess event.
Organised by the Singhbhum District Chess Association on behalf of the Jharkhand Chess Association and the All India Chess Federation, the tournament was held from December 16 to 24, 2025, at Wave International Hotel, Jamshedpur.
The championship brought together the country’s strongest Under-19 players, including multiple International Masters and FIDE Masters from across India.
National Champion: IM Ethan Vaz Dominates the Field
Ethan Vaz of Goa was crowned the undisputed National Junior Under-19 Champion, delivering a commanding performance throughout the tournament.
Entering as the top seed (ELO 2500), Ethan dominated the field with key victories against:
- IM Md Imran (Andhra Pradesh) in Round 9
- IM Mayank Chakraborty (Assam) in Round 7
- FM Vivaan Vishal Shah (Gujarat) in Round 10
- FM Jaiveer Mahendru (Maharashtra) in the final round
Despite requiring only a draw in the last round, Ethan pressed for a win even from a slightly inferior middlegame position. His only draw of the tournament came against CM Aadik Theophane Lenin (Kerala) in Round 4.
This victory also marked a major milestone in Ethan Vaz’s career, as he:
- Earned his second GM norm
- Crossed the ELO 2500 threshold, a key requirement for the Grandmaster title
- Won the championship trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh
Final Standings – Top Finishers (Open)
- IM Ethan Vaz (Goa) – Champion
- IM Mayank Chakraborty (Assam) – Second Place
- Vignesh Vemula (Telangana) – Third Place
39th National Junior Girls Championship – Results
The 39th National Junior Girls Championship, held concurrently at the same venue, also witnessed strong competition.
- WFM Shubhi Gupta (Uttar Pradesh) – Champion
- Nivedita VC (Tamil Nadu) – Second Place
- Pratitee Bordoloi (Karnataka) – Third Place
Strong Field & Competitive Depth
The championship featured an exceptionally strong starting list. The top boards included:
- IM Ethan Vaz (Goa) – Rating 2500
- IM Md Imran (Andhra Pradesh) – Rating 2473
- IM Mayank Chakraborty (Assam) – Rating 2465
- IM Advaith Vemula Vignesh (Telangana) – Rating 2428
With multiple IMs and FMs competing, the tournament offered high-quality classical games and significant rating impact for emerging players.
Kingdom of Chess Students – Tournament Performance
Students trained at Kingdom of Chess delivered notable performances in this demanding national field.
- Arun Kataria (Rajasthan) – Rank 11
Finished just outside the top 10 in a field dominated by titled players. - Rishaan Jain – Rank 49 | ELO +77.6
Showed consistent play against higher-rated opponents. - Rudradaman Mertia – Rank 104 | ELO +76.4
Recorded strong rating growth across multiple rounds. - Hriddhan Agarwal – Rank 132 | ELO +81.2
One of the highest rating gains among participating students.
These performances reflect the importance of long-term preparation, classical tournament exposure, and disciplined training.
Kingdom of Chess Collaboration at National Level
Kingdom of Chess was honoured to collaborate with the Singhbhum District Chess Association at this prestigious national championship.
The collaboration focused on supporting junior talent and contributing to the growth of structured, competitive chess at the national level.
Bringing India’s brightest young talents together on one national stage.
Why This Championship Matters
The National Junior Under-19 Championship is a critical milestone for young players because it:
- Tests endurance and decision-making in classical time controls
- Impacts national rankings and FIDE ratings
- Prepares players for senior national and international events
- Acts as a benchmark for serious competitive juniors in India
For parents, results at this level indicate a child’s readiness for higher competitive stages.
Tournament Conclusion
The 54th National Junior Under-19 Chess Championship 2025 once again highlighted the depth of junior chess talent in India. With a strong field, disciplined organisation, and high-quality games, the event reinforced its reputation as the most important national platform for Under-19 players.
Kingdom of Chess remains committed to supporting young players through structured training and exposure to top-level competitions.
