Telangana's Raja Rithvik clinches National title in Under-15 Chess

Hyderabad: International Master R. Raja Rithvik of Hyderabad bagged Gold Medal for Telangana in the Under-15 National Chess Championship-2019 held at Erode, Tamil Nadu from July9-17.

Rithvik, studying 10th class in Orchids International School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad got the National title by scoring 9.5 points out of 11 rounds in the prestigious National games organized by AICF. Out of 11 rounds, Rithvik has won 8 games and drew 3 games. Raja Rithvik has got the distinction of being the only undefeated player in the tournament. Kushagra Mohan, who is also from Telangana got Silver Medal with the score of 9.0 points. Both Gold and Silver Medals are bagged by Telangana State.

Raja Rithvik defeated Ajay Karthikeyan of Tamilnadu in the final round and emerged as outright winner. In the Queens Pawn London System Opening, Raja Rithvik has played very attackingly from the beginning and defeated the opponent in 40 moves. Playing with the black pieces, Raja Rithvik has refused the draw offer given by his opponent at 33rd move and eventually won the game and has become the National under-15 Champion.

More than 150 top players from all states such as Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, New Delhi, West Bengal, Goa, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh have participated in the National games organized by All India Chess Federation at Erode, Tamilnadu.

By virtue of winning this prestigious National Under-15 Championship, International Master Raja Rithvik is now selected to represent India in the upcoming Asian Youth Championship to be held at Srilanka and World Youth Championship to be held at Greece and Common Wealth Chess Championship at South Africa.

Raja Rithvik, has been undergoing advanced coaching at RACE Chess Academy under the Reputed Coach Sri N.Rama Raju.

Telangana State Chess Association President Sri A. Narasimha Reddy, Telangana State Chess Association Secretary Sri K.S. Prasad have congratulated IM Raja Rithvik for winning GOLD Medal in the prestigious National event and hoped that, Rithvik will become Grand Master in near future and would bring many more laurels to the State as well as Country.

It is pertinent to note that, last year Raja Rithvik had become the youngest International Master from Telangana at the age of 14 years only. In due recognition of his excellent performances at international level, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) had conferred the prestigious title of "International Master" on Raja Rithvik in July,2018. The "FIDE Master" title was conferred in 2017 and "Candidate Master" title in the year 2014.