Madhavendra becomes Asian chess champion, earns FIDE Master title

by Niklesh Jain - 01/12/2025

Madhavendra Pratap Sharma from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has achieved the biggest success of his chess career so far by winning the Under-12 title at the Asian Chess Championship held in Thailand. With six wins and three draws in nine rounds, Madhavendra scored 7.5 points, secured first place, and claimed the gold medal. A few days earlier, he had also won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Malaysia. By becoming Asian champion, Madhavendra has now earned the FIDE Master title, and his live rating has reached 2293, making him the youngest player from Madhya Pradesh to become a FIDE Master. Speaking to ChessBase, Madhavendra shared that his goal is to go to Europe and become an International Master, for which he is looking for a sponsor. Read the full article and see how he was welcomed on his return to Bhopal.

Madhya Pradesh’s Madhavendra becomes FIDE Master

At just 12 years of age, and after claiming the Asian champion title, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh’s Madhavendra Sharma has added another title in the chess world by becoming a FIDE Master. He achieved this feat at the Asian Youth Chess Championship held in Thailand, where he scored 6 wins and 3 draws. In the classical event, he won the country’s only individual gold medal and also contributed to the team gold. In rapid, he helped the team win gold and also secured an individual bronze medal, while in blitz he played an important role in the team winning bronze. In the under-12 category, India’s Advik Amit Agarwal won the silver medal, finishing in second place.

During this period, Madhavendra increased his chess rating by 12 points, taking his live rating to 2293.

During this tournament, Madhavendra secured a crucial victory over Kazakhstan's Noorali Bolashakov in the fifth round and defeated Iran's Ramtin Kakavand in the sixth round.

Laptop broke down at the before of the competition
Everyone knows how essential laptops are for chess players during modern tournaments. When Madhavendra's laptop malfunctioned and he had no technological support left for preparation, this situation turned the competition into a major challenge for him, yet he still achieved a brilliant victory.

Chess enthusiasts gathered at Bhopal's Rani Kamalapati station to welcome him.

Madhavendra arrived at Bhopal's Rani Kamalapati station in the morning from Delhi via Dakshin Express with his parents.

Family members, chess enthusiasts, and close friends arrived to receive him with dhol and nagada drums

During this time, Madhavendra's grandfather, who taught him chess, was seen dancing joyfully with the tricolor flag in hand.

Speaking to Hindi ChessBase India, Madhavendra shared that he is preparing for the National Junior Championship next and wants to go to Europe to become an International Master, for which he needs a sponsor. It is hoped that this 12-year-old prodigy receives support in time, enabling him to realize his dream of not only becoming a Grandmaster but also a world champion in the future.

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