India made an impressive start to the Asian Junior Chess Championship as Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi emerged champions in the Open and Girls’ blitz sections, respectively, on Monday.

Vermula produced the biggest surprise of the opening competitions, overcoming his relatively low seeding to claim the Open blitz title. Starting the tournament as the 23rd seed, the Indian youngster delivered a consistent performance across the rounds and remained in contention throughout the competition.

The title race went down to the tie-breaks, with Vermula finishing level on points with fellow Indians Sharnarthi Viresh and Nandish V S. However, Vermula prevailed on superior tie-break scores to secure the championship, capping a memorable performance against a strong field.

His victory was particularly noteworthy given his starting position in the tournament. Entering as the 23rd seed, Vermula was not among the leading contenders on paper, but he showed strong composure and consistency when it mattered most. His ability to collect crucial points and remain competitive through the fast-paced blitz format ultimately helped him finish at the top of the standings.

Sharnarthi Viresh had to settle for second place after matching Vermula’s points tally, while Nandish V S finished third. Both players remained firmly in the title race until the end, but the tie-break criteria ultimately separated the three Indians at the top. Akshay Borganokar and Madhavendra Pratap Sharma completed the top five, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

In the Girls’ section, Saranya Devi also delivered a strong performance to take the blitz crown and add another Indian title to the opening day of the championship. Her victory ensured that India enjoyed a successful double in the two premier blitz categories.

The results underline the depth of young Indian chess talent, with domestic players dominating the early stages of the Asian Junior Championship. The performances of Vermula and Saranya Devi are particularly encouraging as both players demonstrated the ability to handle the pressure of a championship environment and maintain consistency in the demanding blitz format.

Blitz chess, with its limited thinking time and rapid decision-making requirements, often rewards players who can combine tactical awareness with composure. Vermula’s triumph after starting as the 23rd seed is therefore a significant achievement and highlights his ability to outperform expectations.
The Asian Junior Chess Championship brings together some of the strongest young players from across the continent and provides an important platform for emerging talent to gain international experience.

Also read: Miraz eyes series win after Bangladesh’s triumph over Australia

For India, the opening-day success of Vermula and Saranya Devi provides an ideal start to the championship. With Sharnarthi Viresh and Nandish V S also finishing on the same score as the Open champion, the Indian contingent demonstrated considerable strength in depth.

The focus will now shift to the remaining events, where India’s young chess players will look to build on Monday’s success and add more medals and titles to the country’s campaign.

Vermula’s unexpected rise from the 23rd seed to the Open blitz title and Saranya Devi’s triumph in the Girls’ category have given India early reason for optimism at the Asian Junior Chess Championship.