Prishita Gupta, Divith Reddy win National Under-15 chess titles in Hyderabad
By Aarav DeshpandeSports Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: Felix-Mittermeier / Pixabay
Prishita Gupta (10/11, unbeaten) and Divith Reddy Adulla (9.5/11, on tiebreak) won India's National Under-15 chess titles in Hyderabad on October 20, 2026.
What Happened
Woman International Master Prishita Gupta of Delhi and Candidate Master Divith Reddy Adulla won India's National Sub-Junior (Under-15) Chess Championships, which ended in Hyderabad on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Prishita won the 42nd Girls championship unbeaten with 10 points from 11 rounds, a full point clear of the field, while Divith took the 51st Open championship with 9.5 points, finishing level with S. Madhesh Kumar of Puducherry and winning on tiebreak. Each champion received a cash prize of Rs 90,000.
Key Facts
- Event: 51st National Sub-Junior (Under-15) Open and 42nd Girls Chess Championships, held in Hyderabad and concluded on October 20, 2026.
- Girls champion: WIM Prishita Gupta of Delhi, 10/11, unbeaten with only two draws; VC Nivedita was second and Maitreyi Mondal third.
- Open champion: CM Divith Reddy Adulla, 9.5/11, ahead of S. Madhesh Kumar of Puducherry on tiebreak.
- Divith won his final-round game against Shaunak Badole to reach 9.5 points.
- Niladri Banerjee of West Bengal finished third in the Open section, ahead of Madhvendra Pratap Sharma of Madhya Pradesh on the Buchholz Cut 1 tiebreak, both with nine points.
- Prize: Rs 90,000 for each champion.
- Earlier this month Prishita also won the 36th National Girls Under-17 title, at an event held from September 28 to October 6.
Why It Matters
National age-group championships are the first big test for India's young chess players. Winners gain rating points and recognition, which can help them earn places in events abroad. For a country that has produced a wave of young grandmasters in recent years, these tournaments are where the next generation is first seen.
Prishita Gupta's result stands out. Winning a national title one age group up, in the Under-17 event, and then the Under-15 title within weeks, shows rare consistency. Scoring 10 out of 11 with no defeats means she won nine games and drew two, finishing a full point ahead of the field. She already holds the Woman International Master title, awarded by FIDE, the world chess body, to women who reach set rating and performance standards.
The Open section was far closer. Divith Reddy Adulla and Madhesh Kumar finished on the same score, so the title went to Divith on tiebreak. A tiebreak is a set of rules used to separate players with equal points, usually based on the strength of the opponents each player faced. Buchholz, used to decide third place, adds up the scores of a player's opponents, so a higher figure means tougher opposition.
For young players and their families, the event is a reminder of how chess careers are built in India: through a ladder of district, state and national age-group events, where steady results open doors to sponsorship, coaching and international play.
What should an aspiring player do next? Register with the state chess association, play rated tournaments to earn a FIDE rating, and follow the All India Chess Federation's calendar for state selection events that lead to the national championships.
| Section | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls (42nd) | WIM Prishita Gupta (Delhi) | 10/11 | VC Nivedita |
| Open (51st) | CM Divith Reddy Adulla | 9.5/11 | S. Madhesh Kumar (Puducherry) |
Impact
Short-term: The champions gain national titles, prize money and rating points, and strengthen their claims for places in India's teams for upcoming youth events.
Long-term: Repeated national titles at a young age, as in Prishita's case, often mark players who go on to compete for international titles and senior national selection.
Who is affected: the young players who competed, their coaches and state associations, and selectors building India's teams for international youth chess.
Key Takeaway
Prishita Gupta, unbeaten on 10/11, and Divith Reddy Adulla, on tiebreak with 9.5/11, became India's National Under-15 chess champions in Hyderabad on October 20, 2026.
Questions and Answers
Who won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship 2026?
WIM Prishita Gupta of Delhi won the 42nd Girls title with 10/11, and CM Divith Reddy Adulla won the 51st Open title with 9.5/11 on tiebreak. The event ended in Hyderabad on October 20, 2026.
How did Divith Reddy win the Open title?
He finished level on 9.5 points with S. Madhesh Kumar of Puducherry after beating Shaunak Badole in the final round, and took the title on tiebreak.
Has Prishita Gupta won other titles this month?
Yes. She also won the 36th National Girls Under-17 Chess Championship, held from September 28 to October 6, 2026.
What did the champions win?
Each champion received a cash prize of Rs 90,000.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Aarav Deshpande, Sports CorrespondentCovers Sports and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Aarav Deshpande
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Aarav Deshpande is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
