Young Chess Winners Felicitated at NMDC-The Hindu Tournament in Hyderabad

Young chess champions from Hyderabad and neighbouring districts were felicitated at a prize distribution ceremony organised at the NMDC Corporate Office on Saturday, following the fourth edition of the NMDC-The Hindu in School Chess Tournament.

NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee presented prizes, certificates, shields, and school bags to the winners across five age categories. Senior NMDC officials, school representatives, participants, and parents attended the ceremony. In addition to the top prizes, the top 50 performers will receive subscriptions to Young World and TeenDigest from The Hindu Group.

The tournament was organised by NMDC in association with The Hindu Group and held earlier this month at the State Art Gallery under the aegis of the Telangana Chess Association. The competition drew 470 young players representing more than 170 schools. It was conducted in the Swiss League format in accordance with the latest FIDE rules, overseen by chief arbiter R. Chandra Mouli and deputy chief arbiter R. Sriram.

In the Under-7 category, Akshath Chowhan Lavudiya of Blooms High School, Hanumakonda, won first prize. Shaik Shazwa of St. Ann’s High School, Secunderabad, finished second, while Sulaniya Utkarsh of Pallavi International School, Attapur, took third place.

Sreyansh Thumati of Birla Brainiacs, Hyderabad, won the Under-9 title. Siddharth Chodisetti of HPS-Begumpet secured second place, and Reyansh Singhal of Insignis Transnational School, Chandanagar, finished third.

In the Under-11 division, Sai Sathvik Jayampu of Gitanjali School, Begumpet, claimed the top spot. Ayaanraj Kottapally of Chirec International School, Serilingampally, was the runner-up, followed by Jithin Yalavarthi of World One School, Kondapur, in third place.

The Under-13 title went to Aarush Singhai of Bolton School, Secunderabad. Hithesh Sai Saketh Moyida of Silver Oaks International School finished as runner-up, while Vihaan Singh of The Sriram Universal School, Nanakramguda, took third place.

In the Under-15 category, Adhyayan Banerjee of Delhi Public School, Nacharam, emerged as champion. Sundar Divij P of Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam, secured second place, and Andabatla Satvik of Railway Junior College, Tarnaka, finished third.