Asian Junior Open and Girls Classical Chess Championships 2026 Kick Off in Mumbai

Championship Launch at ITC Maratha Sheraton

The 2026 Asian Junior Open and Girls Classical Chess Championships commenced at the ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai, where most of the top-seeded players showcased their skills in the opening round of this nine-round tournament.

Indian Super Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi had the honor of inaugurating the Classical Championship, making the ceremonial first move before Round One began. This event was particularly special for Vidit, who had just been awarded the esteemed Arjuna Award by the Government of India the previous day. He received a warm reception from players, officials, and chess fans present at the venue.

Opening Round Highlights

The initial round of the Open Championship saw few surprises among the top boards, with higher-rated players generally demonstrating their dominance. The top seed, IM Mayank Chakraborty, started his tournament with a solid win.

However, two prominent players faced unexpected challenges, as IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula was held to a draw by lower-rated Neemay Bhanushali, and FM Akhilbay Imangali from Kazakhstan shared points with Rishaan Jain. These early setbacks could have implications in this tightly contested championship.

Girls Section Upsets

The Girls section witnessed a few surprising results. WFM Swara Lakshmi S. Nair, despite her higher rating, was held to a draw by Vakcheri Mohitha, while Aadya Gowda triumphed over the higher-rated WFM Mrittika Mallick.

Another unexpected outcome was Liliya Belaya from Uzbekistan defeating India's higher-rated Archita Agrawal.

Strong Participation

The Open Championship features 85 participants from nine different federations, including six International Masters and 11 FIDE Masters, marking it as one of the most competitive junior events in Asia. Leading the pack is India's top seed, IM Mayank Chakraborty, with a rating of 2500.

The Girls Championship also boasts players from seven federations and promises to be equally fierce. The top three seeds — WFM Pratitee Bordoloi from India, WFM Mariya Kholyavko from Kazakhstan, and WFM Shohradova Lala from Turkmenistan — all secured convincing victories in their opening matches, placing them in the lead group after the first round.

Organizers and Venue

This championship is being organized by the Maharashtra Chess Association in collaboration with the All India Chess Federation and the Asian Chess Federation, taking place at the ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai.