The Udaipur District Chess Championship 2026 delivered a historic result for Indian junior chess. Two young players, both trained at Kingdom of Chess, claimed the top podium positions in their respective categories. Viaansh Bhatnagar finished Rank 1 in the U-9 Open with a perfect score. Poushita Paliwal finished Rank 1 in the U-9 Girls Championship with an unbeaten run, including a stunning upset over the highest-rated player in her section. They are under nine years old. They are already winning district championships. And this is only the beginning.
About the Udaipur District Chess Championship 2026
The Udaipur District Chess Championship is one of Rajasthan’s most competitive junior chess events at the district level. Held in 2026, the tournament featured age-group categories including the U-9 Open and U-9 Girls sections, drawing participants from schools across Udaipur.
For young players in the 5 to 9 age range, a district championship is often their first real test under competitive pressure: rated opponents, multiple rounds, and no room for complacency. Results here carry real weight in a player’s FIDE profile and set the trajectory for state-level participation.
In 2026, two students from the same online chess academy stood on top of both podiums.
Viaansh Bhatnagar: Perfect Score in the U-9 Open
Viaansh Bhatnagar entered the U-9 Open as the top seed, carrying a FIDE rating of 1481 and representing Witty International School, Udaipur (FIDE ID: 429097274). He finished with 5 points from 5 rounds and a performance rating of 2124, a number that signals his actual playing level is far above where his current rating sits.
A performance rating of 2124 at under-9 is not routine. For context, that performance level is in the range of a strong club player approaching candidate master territory. In a five-round district event, sustained at that level, it reflects more than talent. It reflects preparation.
Round-by-Round Breakdown
| Round | Opponent | School / Club | Opp. Rating | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nivan Solanki | Udaipur | Unrated | Walk Over |
| 2 | Ishaan Mittal | Rockwoods High School, Udaipur | Unrated | Win |
| 3 | Ayansh Dalal | Rockwoods International School | 1417 | Win |
| 4 | Gatik Vyas | The Vision Academy, Udaipur | 1451 | Win |
| 5 | Shreyan Gupta | Seedling Modern Public School | 1426 | Win |
The Defining Moment: Round 4 and 5
Round 4 was the closest Viaansh came to dropping a point. Gatik Vyas, rated 1451, pushed hard in what became the tournament’s most contested game. The draw was conceded. However, Viaansh entered Round 5 against Shreyan Gupta (rated 1426) needing a win to confirm the title. He delivered it.
Finishing with 5 points from 5 rounds secured first place outright, with a full point gap over the second-placed player.
Final Standings, U-9 Open
| Rank | Player | School / Club | Rating | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viaansh Bhatnagar | Witty International | 1481 | 5.0 |
| 2 | Gatik Vyas | The Vision Academy, Udaipur | 1451 | 4.0 |
| 3 | Ramneek Singh Saluja | St Paul's Sr Sec School | Unrated | 4.0 |
| 4 | Viraj Darak | Pineworld School | Unrated | 3.5 |
| 5 | Shreyan Gupta | Seedling Modern Public School | 1426 | 3.0 |
Poushita Paliwal: Four Wins, Zero Losses, and a Major Upset
Poushita Paliwal’s title run in the U-9 Girls Championship was remarkable for two reasons. First, she went unbeaten across all four rounds. Second, her final-round win came against Mananya Choudhary, rated 1516, the highest-rated player in the section and a player rated 102 points above Poushita.
Poushita carries a FIDE rating of 1414 and represents Mds Sen. Sec. School, Udaipur (FIDE ID: 429010098). Her performance rating for this tournament came out at 1929. That is not a lucky run. That is a player performing at a level that her current rating has not yet caught up with.
Round-by-Round Breakdown
| Round | Opponent | School / Club | Opp. Rating | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lithisha Sharma | Udaipur | Unrated | Win |
| 2 | Devanshi Bahety | Cross Roads International School | Unrated | Win |
| 3 | Vihaana Gokhru | St. Anthony's Senior Secondary School | Unrated | Win |
| 4 | Mananya Choudhary | St. Anthony's Senior Secondary School | 1516 | Win |
The Decisive Upset: Beating the Top Seed in Round 4
Mananya Choudhary entered the final round with the highest rating in the field, at 1516, and three points from three rounds. She was the favourite. Poushita, seeded second at 1414, had to beat her to win the championship outright.
She did exactly that. Winning as the lower-rated player, in the decisive round, under tournament pressure, against the top seed: that is the kind of result that defines a competitor. Poushita claimed all four points and the title without dropping a game.
Final Standings, U-9 Open
| Rank | Player | School / Club | Rating | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poushita Paliwal | Mds Sen. Sec. School | 1414 | 4.0 |
| 2 | Mananya Choudhary | St. Anthony's Senior Secondary School | 1516 | 3.0 |
| 3 | Lithisha Sharma | Udaipur | Unrated | 3.0 |
| 4 | Prisha Kataria | Udaipur | Unrated | 3.0 |
| 5 | Trisha Sharma | Udaipur | Unrated | 3.0 |
Behind Both Championship Wins: Early Training and Expert Coaching
Both Viaansh and Poushita are under 9, carry FIDE ratings above 1400, and beat higher-rated opponents in the decisive rounds. These results do not happen by accident. Three things made the difference:
- Structured training that builds tactical habits and positional awareness that hold under pressure.
- Tournament exposure that replaces nerves with composure, round after round.
- Expert coaching from Grandmasters and International Masters, delivered entirely online through Kingdom of Chess.
Neither player trained at a local coaching centre or a physical chess club. Their preparation happened entirely online, through Kingdom of Chess, founded in Udaipur by Arena Grandmaster Chandrajeet Rajawat, with faculty including GM Diptayan Ghosh (ELO 2577) and IM Kushager Krishnater (ELO 2392). A structured, level-based curriculum, monthly progress tracking, and built-in tournament participation did the rest.
Their performance ratings, 2124 for Viaansh and 1929 for Poushita, show both are already playing well above their current FIDE ratings. Significant gains are coming. Parents asking when to start will find answers in our guide on the perfect age to start learning chess and what chess does for child development when taken seriously early. To explore structured coaching for your child, visit online chess classes for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Congratulations to Two Champions from Udaipur
Viaansh Bhatnagar and Poushita Paliwal have shown what is possible when young children are given proper chess training and the opportunity to compete. A perfect score and a championship upset, both from players under nine years old, are results that deserve recognition across Indian junior chess.
Udaipur now has two district champions with FIDE profiles already pointing toward national-level competition. The chess world should take note. Their journeys are just beginning
