Tapan Badamundi wins the 65th Odisha Senior State FIDE Open Chess Championship 2025
04/09/2025 - Chess in Odisha is growing steadily with time. Initiatives like Chess-O-Disha and Pro-Chess-Ta are producing players from every corner of the state. One such rising star from the state is Tapan Badamundi, a tribal boy who hails from the Paralakhemundi region. He discovered his passion for chess early on, but limited resources made it difficult for him to pursue it. But he didn't give up! Recognizing his potential, he was gifted a laptop through ChessBase India’s YouTube Members Program last year. All his hard work and dedication paid off when he recently won the 65th Odisha Senior State FIDE Rating Open Chess Championship. He missed the trophy quite a few times in the past, but this time, he remained undefeated and scored 7.5/9 to clinch the title. Read on to discover what makes his journey so inspiring. Photo: Debi Prasad Nayak