62nd National Championship R1: Tijil Singh fights valiantly for nearly 5.5 hours against Surya Ganguly

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/09/2025

The 62nd National Chess Championship 2025 witnessed a lot of exciting and interesting games in the very first round. There was no major upset. However, Tijil Singh (TEL) had a great opportunity to draw against the six-time consecutive National champion, GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (TEL). However, he blundered a queen exchange which cost him the game. The Indian legend, GM Sasikiran Krishnan (PSPB) is playing his first National in nearly 12 years. The last one he played was the 51st edition in 2013 which he won. The total prize fund of the tournament is same as last year ₹3000000. The top three prizes also remain unchanged ₹600000, ₹500000 and ₹400000 each. Round 2 starts today at 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Sasikiran plays his first National since 2013

Arul Prakash N (TN), Rupesh B Ramachandra (BIH), Advik Reddy Moate (TEL) and Swapnil Priyadarshi (ODI) held GM Prraneeth Vuppala (TEL), GM Sayantan Das (RSPB), GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (RSPB) and GM Sriram Jha (LIC) to a draw each. The tournament also marks the return of Ashok Koneru, Dronacharya awardee and father of the legend, GM Humpy Koneru, his first rating tournament in over 22 years. Total 394 players including 14 GMs, 30 IMs and 2 WGMs are representing various states, union territories and units all over the country.

Iniyan - Rishit

Position after 8.Bc4

One of the hardest things to do is do nothing. Black does not need to make an attempt to improve the position. 8...Qd8 9.Qe5 Kh6 and Black can hold the position. Instead, Rishit Sharma (GUJ,1907) blundered in time trouble 8...h4? GM Iniyan Pa (TN, 2599) pounced on his opportunity 9.gxh4 f4 10.exf4 Qxf4 11.Qxb6 and White went on to win the game.

GM Iniyan Pa - Rishit Sharma | Video: ChessBase India

The top seed, GM Iniyan Pa (TN) made a winning start against Rishit Sharma (GUJ)

Tijil - Surya

Position after 11.Rd6

After the rook trade, ideally the game should end in a draw. However, it is not so easy when you are playing against the six-time consecutive National Champion, GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (PSPB, 2573). White eventually made an incorrect queen trade offer, which cost him the game.

Position after 50...c3+!

This should give you an inkling that Black having an extra pawn on the board allowed him to be resourceful and trade a pawn to ensure White does not get a chance to claim 50-move draw by surviving another dozen more. 51.Kxc3 Qxa3+ 52.Kd2 Black created a new passed pawn on the a-file.

Position after 71.Qd3??

Find out why 71.Qd3?? loses for White.

Tijil Singh (TEL) put up a great fight against GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (PSPB) for nearly 5.5 hours

The legend, GM Sasikiran Krishnan is playing his first National Championship since the 51st edition held in 2013 which he won

Vineel - Rohith Krishna

Position after 36...Kxe5

India's latest GM S Rohith Krishna (TN, 2503) played adventurously against Vineel Radha Karthik Chukka (AP, 1889). He captured a pawn on e5 to bring it to the center of the board. Later it turned out in the queen and knight endgame, that running away with his king helped him to win the game.

Vineel Radha Karthik Chukka - GM S Rohith Krishna | Video: ChessBase India

India's 89th GM S Rohith Krishna (TN) made a winning start

55th National Champion, GM Lalit Rohit (PSPB) scored a comfortable win over Gagan Sahu (CT)

The multi-time Hastings Masters winner, GM Deep Sengupta (PSPB) displayed his sharp play to beat Manav Kumar (RAJ)

GM Prraneeth Vuppala (TEL) was held to a draw by Arul Prakash N (TN)

Amartya Saumitra Gupta (DEL) - IM Harsh Suresh (TN): 0.5-0.5

Rupesh B Ramachandra (BIH) - GM Sayantan Das (RSPB): 0.5-0.5

Advik Reddy Moate (TEL) - GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (RSPB): 0.5-0.5

IM Sidhant Mohapatra (RSPB) - Divij P Sundar (TEL): 0.5-0.5

Former National Under-7 Open champion, Sri Akhil Prasad (AP) held IM Sambit Panda (ODI) to a well contested draw

Anirudh R (TN) - IM Arghyadip Das (RSPB): 0.5-0.5

Swapnil Priyadarshi (ODI) - GM Sriram Jha (LIC): 0.5-0.5

Divith - Ashok

The above position is a draw once White captures the b5-pawn as he has a rook-pawn and the color of bishop is not the same as the promotion square. It is obvious that Ashok Koneru (AP, 2183) is well aware of it. However, little Divith Reddy Adulla (TEL, 1805) wanted to win and he tried for it.

World Cadet Under-8 2024 Gold medalist, Divith Reddy Adulla tested Dronacharya awardee - Ashok Koneru, GM Humpy Koneru's father and settled for a draw eventually

The most emotional finish of Round 1 | Video: ChessBase India

All scoresheets had players' names and details printed on it along with a notepad

The tournament entrance

The tournament banner

Inauguration ceremony had dance performances from various states of the country

Lighting of the lamp by Ashok Koneru, Chairman of Vignan's (Deemed to be University), Organizing team and officials

A chess themed cake was cut

Felicitation of Ashok Koneru, Dronacharya Awardee and father of the legend - GM Humpy Koneru

The Chairman in his speech mentioned that Vignan became the first university in the country to award an honorary doctorate to a chess player when they announced it to the two-time reigning World Rapid Women's champion, GM Humpy Koneru, last year.

Chairman of Vignan's (Deemed to be University) and GM Sasikiran Krishnan, made the inaugural first move in presence of Grandmasters and various officials

Inauguration ceremony | Video: ChessBase India

Chief Arbiter - IA R Anantharam stating the rules and regulations during technical meeting

Ceremonial first move of Round 1 was made on GM Iniyan Pa (TN) and Rishit Sharma's (GUJ) board

Round 1 in progress

For more Inauguration Ceremony and Round 1 photos, please click at the respective links.

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 results

Bo.		White	Gr	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Gr	Rtg	Club/City
1	GM	Iniyan Pa	1	2599	TN	0	1 - 0	0		Rishit Sharma	197	1907	GJ
2		Tijil Singh	198	1907	TG	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Ganguly Surya Shekhar	2	2573	PSPB
3	GM	Sethuraman S.P.	3	2572	PSPB	0	1 - 0	0	WCM	Wankhade Sanskruti	393	1905	MH
4		Majhi Fakir	200	1902	KIIT	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	4	2524	PSPB
5	GM	Vignesh N R	5	2516	RSPB	0	1 - 0	0		Srikara Darbha	201	1895	KA
6		Seetasagar Konaparthi	202	1893	AP	0	0 - 1	0	IM	Aronyak Ghosh	6	2514	RSPB
7	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	7	2511	PSPB	0	1 - 0	0		Sunetra Dey	203	1892	WB
8		Chukka Vineel Radha Karthik	204	1889	AP	0	0 - 1	0	IM	Rohith Krishna S	8	2503	TN
9	GM	Lalit Babu M R	9	2502	AP	0	1 - 0	0		Gagan Sahu	205	1887	CT
10		Manav Kumar	206	1887	RJ	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Sengupta Deep	10	2490	PSPB

Details

Standings after Round 1

Rk.	SNo		Name	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB5	TB6
1	2	GM	Ganguly Surya Shekhar	2	IND	2573	PSPB	1	1	1
2	4	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	4	IND	2524	PSPB	1	1	1
3	6	IM	Aronyak Ghosh	6	IND	2514	RSPB	1	1	1
4	8	IM	Rohith Krishna S	8	IND	2503	TN	1	1	1
5	10	GM	Sengupta Deep	10	IND	2490	PSPB	1	1	1
6	12	GM	Srihari L R	12	IND	2481	TN	1	1	1
7	14	IM	Ayush Sharma	14	IND	2457	RSPB	1	1	1
8	20	IM	Audi Ameya	20	IND	2430	GA	1	1	1
9	22	IM	Soham Kamotra	22	IND	2414	JK	1	1	1
10	26	IM	Aaditya Dhingra	396	IND	2391	HR	1	1	1

Details

Round 2 pairings

Bo.		White	Gr	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Gr	Rtg	Club/City
1	AIM	Adhiraj Mitra	105	2064	JH	1		1	GM	Iniyan Pa	1	2599	TN
2	GM	Ganguly Surya Shekhar	2	2573	PSPB	1		1		Yashad Bambeshwar	107	2057	CT
3		Guru Prakash	108	2055	MH	1		1	GM	Sethuraman S.P.	3	2572	PSPB
4	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	4	2524	PSPB	1		1	AIM	Banik Hrishikesh Kumar	109	2053	WB
5		Sharnarthi Shlok	111	2046	MH	1		1	GM	Vignesh N R	5	2516	RSPB
6	IM	Aronyak Ghosh	6	2514	RSPB	1		1	CM	Vivaan Vijay Saraogi	113	2043	MH
7	WFM	Lasya G	114	2040	AP	1		1	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	7	2511	PSPB
8	IM	Rohith Krishna S	8	2503	TN	1		1		Borkhetariya Devarsh M	115	2040	GJ
9	FM	Ayushh Ravikumar	116	2038	TN	1		1	GM	Lalit Babu M R	9	2502	AP
10	GM	Sengupta Deep	10	2490	PSPB	1		1		Karan J P	117	2035	KL

Details

Links

Andhra Chess Association

Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (Deemed to be University)

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