India's 20-yo chess GM Pranav crowned World Jr Blitz champion

NEW DELHI: 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh, who became FIDE World Junior Champion in the classical time-control last year, has now clinched the Open section title at the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship, finishing on an impressive 10.5 points from 13 rounds in UAE on Friday. Pranav topped the final standings, finishing a full point ahead of three players who shared second place with 9.5 points each. Kyrgyzstan’s International Master Eldiyar Orozbaev secured second place, while Armenia’s IM Robert Piliposyan finished third. Syria’s FIDE Master Mazen Fandi also scored 9.5 points to take fourth place. Uzbekistan’s GM Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov, FIDE’s GM Erdem Khubukshanov and Uzbekistan’s GM Khumoyun Begmuratov followed with nine points apiece. Pranav had made a strong start to the championship, ending the first day of blitz tied at the top of the Open leaderboard with six points. He carried that momentum into the remaining rounds to emerge as the outright champion. There was also Indian representation among the leading players in the Girls section.

WIM Aamuktha Guntaka finished fifth with nine points from 13 rounds, while IM Savitha Shri B secured 8.5 points to take seventh place. The Girls title went to WGM Valeria Kleymenova, who scored 10 points. Uzbekistan’s WGM Afruza Khamdamova and Russia’s WFM Veronika Iudina finished second and third respectively, both with 9.5 points.

Pranav’s blitz triumph adds to an encouraging campaign at the World Junior Rapid and Blitz Championships in Al Ain. He had earlier won silver in the Open section of the World Junior Rapid Championship, scoring seven points from nine rounds. Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Begmuratov claimed rapid gold with 7.5 points. In the Girls rapid event, Savitha Shri finished ninth with 5.5 points, the best result by an Indian player in that section.