Kridhay A (FIDE 1492) has won the 38th Tamil Nadu State Under-07 Open Chess Championship 2026, finishing on 8 points from 9 rounds to claim top place in one of the state’s premier junior chess tournaments. The latest chess results from Tamil Nadu confirm Kridhay finished a decisive half-point ahead of three players who shared second on 7.5 points each.
Organised by the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA), the championship attracted a strong field of Under-7 players from across the state. Kridhay’s only defeat came in Round 5, after which he produced an unbeaten four-game run to clinch the title, including a critical head-to-head win over eventual runner-up Krithik Kasiraja in Round 8.
Kridhay is a student at Kingdom of Chess, a FIDE-coached online academy whose faculty includes GM Diptayan Ghosh (ELO 2577) and IM Kushager Krishnater (ELO 2392).
| Tournament | 38th Tamil Nadu State Under-07 Open Chess Championship 2026 |
|---|---|
| Organiser | Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) |
| Format | Swiss System, 9 Rounds |
| Category | Under-7 Open |
| Champion | Kridhay A (FIDE Rating: 1492, IND) |
| Score | 8/9 points (8 wins, 1 loss) |
| 2nd Place | Krithik Kasiraja, 7.5/9 (tiebreak) |
| 3rd Place | Rudhvick M S, 7.5/9 (tiebreak) |
About the 38th Tamil Nadu State Under-07 Chess Championship
The Tamil Nadu State Under-07 Open Chess Championship is an annual age-category event conducted under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA), one of the strongest state chess bodies in India. Running for 38 editions, the tournament serves as a critical proving ground for the youngest competitive chess players in the state.
The Under-7 category is particularly significant in Tamil Nadu’s chess development pipeline. The state is widely recognised as India’s chess capital, having produced more Grandmasters than any other region. The Under-7 and Under-9 championships feed directly into national-level age-category selections, making these results closely watched by coaches, parents, and selectors across India.
The championship follows a Swiss system format across 9 rounds, meaning players face opponents with similar scores as the tournament progresses. This system ensures that final standings reflect consistent performance across all rounds rather than a single knockout bout.
Final Standings: Top 5 After Round 9
| Rank | Name | Rating | Score | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kridhay A | 1492 | 8 | 51 | 52 | 45 |
| 2 | Krithik Kasiraja | - | 7.5 | 54.5 | 55.5 | 44.25 |
| 3 | Rudhvick M S | - | 7.5 | 46.5 | 50.5 | 41.25 |
| 4 | Awais Khan D | 1464 | 7.5 | 46.5 | 49 | 38.75 |
| 5 | Pugazh Vinoth | - | 7 | 53 | 57.5 | 45.5 |
Round-by-Round: How Kridhay Won the Title
Kridhay entered the tournament as one of the rated seeds in the field, carrying a FIDE rating of 1492, a significant benchmark in the Under-7 category. Here is how his nine rounds unfolded.
| Round | Opponent | Points | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammed Affan | 1 | Win |
| 2 | Nivaan Feodor | 1 | Win |
| 3 | Rajavelavan G | 1 | Win |
| 4 | Rithvin S | 1 | Win |
| 5 | Pugazh Vinoth | 0 | Loss |
| 6 | Lashvin Aadhitya | 1 | Win |
| 7 | Shriharikesh S | 1 | Win |
| 8 | Krithik Kasiraja | 1 | Win |
| 9 | Athish Ganesan | 1 | Win |
Rounds 1 to 4: Establishing Command
Kridhay opened the championship with four consecutive wins. He defeated Mohammed Affan, Nivaan Feodor, Rajavelavan G, and Rithvin S in succession, playing with the Black pieces in three of those four games. Scoring 4/4 from the Black side three times reflects a confident, well-prepared player comfortable in defensive structures.
By the end of Round 4, Kridhay sat at the top of the standings with a perfect score.
Round 5: The Only Defeat
Pugazh Vinoth, who would eventually finish fifth in the final standings, defeated Kridhay in Round 5. Playing with the Black pieces again, Kridhay could not convert and conceded his only loss of the tournament.
What defined Kridhay’s championship was not this defeat. It was his response to it.
The Decisive Moment: Round 8 vs Krithik Kasiraja
Kridhay faced Krithik Kasiraja (the player who would go on to finish second in the final standings) in Round 8. Kridhay won this critical direct head-to-head clash with the White pieces. That win effectively ended the title race. Kasiraja finished on 7.5 points; Kridhay had 7 at that point with one round to go, and then sealed the championship with a Round 9 win over Athish Ganesan.
Rounds 6 to 9: Four Straight Wins to the Title
After his Round 5 loss, Kridhay produced a clinical four-game unbeaten run. Victories over Lashvin Aadhitya (Round 6) and Shriharikesh S (Round 7) kept him in contention. Then came the pivotal Round 8.
In Swiss system tournaments, a loss mid-tournament followed by a run of wins is a pattern seen in the best junior players. Kridhay’s four straight wins after Round 5 demonstrate not just chess strength, but the psychological resilience that separates tournament champions from one-day performers.
Tamil Nadu Chess: Why These Results Matter
Tamil Nadu is the undisputed centre of competitive chess in India. The state has produced more Grandmasters than any other region in the country and continues to dominate age-category chess at national level.
Chess results from Tamil Nadu carry particular weight in India’s junior chess ecosystem. Under-7 and Under-9 state championships serve as a key pathway into the national selection circuit. Players who perform well at state level are considered for national championships, from where the pipeline to FIDE-rated play, national ratings, and eventually international titles begins.
The TNSCA calendar runs throughout the year, with age-category championships from Under-7 to Under-25, open rated events, and national-level trials. The density of competitive opportunities in Tamil Nadu means that winning a state championship, even at Under-7 level, requires sustained performance against a field of well-coached, tournament-hardened players.
For parents tracking chess results from Tamil Nadu, the state championship results are among the most reliable indicators of emerging talent. Kridhay A’s 8/9 score against this field puts him firmly on the radar.
Kingdom of Chess: Building Champions at the Grassroots
Kridhay A trains at Kingdom of Chess, an online chess academy known for preparing young players for competitive tournaments. The academy’s coaching faculty includes GM Diptayan Ghosh (ELO 2577), IM Kushager Krishnater (ELO 2392), and IM Sanket Chakravarthy (ELO 2303), working under the vision of founder Arena Grandmaster Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat. The academy currently serves over 10,000 students across 30+ countries.
Kridhay’s title adds to a growing roster of state-level results from KOC students across India. Earlier in 2025, KOC students delivered strong performances at state-level competitions. For a full picture of student achievements, visit the KOC success stories page.
The methodology behind KOC’s competitive preparation focuses on tournament readiness: opening preparation, endgame technique, and the psychological training required to recover from mid-tournament setbacks, precisely the resilience Kridhay demonstrated after Round 5.
What Is Next for Junior Chess Players in India
For players and parents tracking the Tamil Nadu chess circuit, the next steps typically involve national-level age-category championships and FIDE-rated open events. A comprehensive calendar of upcoming chess tournaments in India 2026 is available on the KOC blog, updated regularly with new event dates, formats, and eligibility details.
For Tamil Nadu players specifically, state results feed into the national championship qualification cycle. Parents and coaches should note upcoming TNSCA events and national Under-7 selections that follow from these state-level results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The latest chess results from Tamil Nadu’s Under-7 state circuit confirm Kridhay A as the 38th edition champion with a dominant 8/9 performance. His ability to regroup after his only defeat and close out the tournament with four straight wins, including a critical head-to-head win over the runner-up, marks him as a player with genuine competitive instincts.
For parents and coaches watching Tamil Nadu’s junior chess pipeline, Kridhay’s result is a strong indicator of what structured, FIDE-level preparation can produce at the youngest competitive age categories. Congratulations to Kridhay, his family, and his coaches at Kingdom of Chess.
Follow KOC’s blog for continued coverage of student achievements, state and national tournament results, and coaching insights from GM and IM-level instructors.
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