As India’s outstanding chess revolution gathers momentum, youngsters Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra are guaranteeing that the nation’s future on the 64 squares stays brighter than ever.
Indian chess gamers returned house with a wealthy haul of medals from the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka just lately. Among the many medal winners have been two rising stars whose achievements stood out for various causes.
One is a younger chess prodigy who has excelled not solely on the 64 squares but additionally in lecturers, constantly rising as a high performer at school.
The opposite created historical past by changing into the primary participant from Jharkhand to win a medal on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship, placing his state firmly on the worldwide chess map.
Their journeys could have begun otherwise, however each children exemplify the expertise, self-discipline and willpower which might be driving India’s rising dominance in world chess.
One found chess whereas watching his elder sister study the sport. The opposite inherited a wealthy chess legacy from his maternal household.
At present, each Rishabh Kumar of Indore and Adhiraj Mitra of Jamshedpur are among the many brightest younger skills in Indian chess, carrying the hopes of a nation that’s quickly changing into a worldwide chess powerhouse.
An Unintended Starting
IMAGE: Rishabh Kumar just lately added a major worldwide achievement to his rising resume by profitable the silver medal within the Underneath-14 Open Classical class on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Sri Lanka. {Photograph}: Venkatachari Jagannathan
For 13-year-old Rishabh Kumar, the story started in Delhi.
There was no grand plan to create a chess champion. His elder sister Riddhi Maheshwari had expressed an curiosity in studying the sport. As she attended classes and performed apply video games, a curious younger Rishabh sat close by, watching each transfer.
Key Factors
- Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra share frequent qualities — self-discipline, ambition and a willingness to work relentlessly in pursuit of excellence.
- Rishabh Kumar claimed the silver medal within the Underneath-14 Open Classical class on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Sri Lanka.
- Adhiraj is the primary chess participant from Jharkhand to win a medal on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship Underneath-14 class.
“My daughter Riddhi needed to study chess. Whereas she was taking part in, Rishabh used to sit down beside her and watch. Quickly he picked up the sport himself,” remembers his mom Ruchi Maheshwari, a house maker.
What began as informal commentary quickly revealed a rare expertise.
Riddhi herself was an completed participant, ending third within the Delhi State Underneath-9 Championship and representing her faculty in College Recreation Federation of India occasions. However it quickly turned evident that her youthful brother possessed a pure affinity for the sport.
At age 5, Rishabh entered his first match. His mother and father subsequently enrolled him beneath Coach Karun Duggal, starting a journey that might collect tempo after the household shifted to Indore.
Constructing A Champion
The outcomes have been spectacular. Rishabh has captured a number of state titles throughout age teams and just lately added a major worldwide achievement to his rising resume by profitable the silver medal within the Underneath-14 Open Classical class on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Sri Lanka.
His rise has not merely been measured by trophies. Equally important has been his regular enhance in taking part in energy, mirrored in substantial ranking beneficial properties at main tournaments throughout the nation.
Paradoxically, one of many greatest challenges in his growth concerned slowing him down.
“Initially he used to play very quick and needed to be slowed down,” says Ruchi.
The transformation, nonetheless, was smoother than anticipated.
“Slowing down was not troublesome and didn’t pose any problem. Now it’s extra of a positional and never a tactical sport,” says Rishabh.
His strategy mirrors the gamers he admires. Former World Champion Garry Kasparov stays his favorite participant although he additionally appreciates Magnus Carlsen’s precision. Amongst Indian gamers, his admiration is reserved for Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi.
“He doesn’t go for a draw. He’s an aggressive participant,” says Rishabh.
The Highway To Grandmaster
Presently rated 2,062, {the teenager} has set clear targets for himself.
His fast goal is to cross the two,300 ranking mark and safe an Worldwide Grasp norm through the 12 months.
“I’m working laborious and I’m in good kind,” he says confidently.
That confidence is backed by self-discipline. Throughout faculty days, Rishabh spends about 4 hours every day on chess. Holidays see that dedication rise to seven or eight hours.
“I learn chess books, remedy puzzles and verify openings,” he says.
His preparation contains coaching beneath Siddhant Gaikwad of Pune, participation in group lessons carried out by Grandmaster Swayam Mishra and attendance at camps organised by Chola Chess in Chennai.
But his long-term ambition stays singular.
“I wish to turn out to be a Grandmaster and obtain a ranking of two,700. Turning right into a chess skilled depends upon the longer term scenario. I’ll proceed to deal with my tutorial profession too,” says Rishabh.
Household Sacrifices, Life Past Chess
Behind each profitable younger participant stands a supportive household, and the Maheshwaris have embraced the calls for of aggressive chess.
“Chess is a pricey sport as a result of gamers need to journey overseas to extend their ranking. There aren’t sufficient tournaments in India,” says Ruchi.
Being strict vegetarians provides one other layer of complexity to abroad journey.
“I often carry meals for each of us throughout tournaments overseas. Like every regular Indian little one, Rishabh likes dal and roti and does not like junk meals. Curiously, he loves bitter gourd (karela) and we’ve got to cease him from overdoing it,” she says with a smile.
Away from the chessboard, Rishabh enjoys desk tennis, badminton, swimming and horse driving. He’s equally completed in lecturers, incomes distinctions in Olympiads, receiving recognition as a ‘Maths Wizard’ and profitable the celebrated Beville Award as the perfect all-round scholar in junior faculty at Daly Faculty, Indore.
A Household Legacy on the Chessboard
IMAGE: Adhiraj Mitra turned the primary chess participant from Jharkhand to win a medal on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship Underneath-14 class. {Photograph}: Venkatachari Jagannathan
If Rishabh stumbled into chess nearly by chance, Adhiraj Mitra’s path was formed by household custom.
The 12 12 months outdated from Jamshedpur just lately created historical past by changing into the primary chess participant from Jharkhand to win a medal on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship Underneath-14 class.
His efficiency on the Commonwealth Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Sri Lanka was distinctive. He returned with three medals — gold in Blitz, silver in Speedy and bronze in Classical Chess.
The medal haul arrived simply days earlier than his June sixth birthday, making it an early birthday reward for the Class 9 scholar of Loyola College, Jamshedpur.
Within the 2025 version of the sport in Malaysia he gained the Gold in his age class.
Not like Rishabh, whose household found chess by means of his sister, Adhiraj grew up surrounded by the sport.
His mom Runa Mitra belongs to a household deeply related with chess. Her brothers Dushyant Das and Abhishek Das are FIDE-rated gamers and coaches, whereas her sister Alka Das completed third within the Nationwide B Girls’s Championship in 2004. Their father Ambika Das was a detailed good friend of the late Worldwide Grasp V Koshy.
Runa pursued a special ardour and graduated in Indian classical music.
But it was her father who launched Adhiraj to chess throughout a go to to his grandparents’ house.
“When Adhiraj was about six years outdated, my father taught him about chess items and their association. That was the place he began taking part in the sport,” remembers Runa.
Guided By Masters
The affect was fast.
Quickly after studying the sport, Adhiraj entered an area match and gained it. Recognising his potential, the household positioned him beneath Coach Ashok Varma in Jamshedpur. His uncles additionally performed an important function in his early growth.
As his energy elevated, so did the standard of teaching out there to him.
Over time, Adhiraj has educated beneath Grandmasters Pravin Thipsay, Ankit Rajpara and Thejkumar, Girl Grandmaster Priyanka Nutakki and his uncles. Like Rishabh, he too attends coaching camps carried out by Chola Chess in Chennai.
Every coach contributes to a special side of his sport.
“Priyanka focuses on openings, Ankit on positional play and Thipsay sir teaches mannequin video games and deep positional understanding,” says Adhiraj.
A Landmark Victory
One of the memorable moments of his profession got here earlier this 12 months on the 4th Gujarat Worldwide Open Grandmasters Chess Event.
Enjoying with black items, he defeated Vietnamese Grandmaster Nguyen Duc Hoa — his first victory towards a Grandmaster.
“It was a roller-coaster sport,” he remembers.
Presently rated 2,172, Adhiraj balances chess with lecturers whereas discovering time for motion pictures and his love of meals, significantly non-vegetarian dishes.
Two Journeys, One Dream
Though their tales are completely different, Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra share frequent qualities — self-discipline, ambition and a willingness to work relentlessly in pursuit of excellence. Additionally, each are good at research.
One realized chess by watching his sister. The opposite inherited a household custom. One goals of changing into a Grandmaster whereas balancing lecturers; the opposite is already making historical past for his state.
Collectively, they characterize the brand new face of Indian chess — proficient, decided and fearless.
As India’s outstanding chess revolution gathers momentum, children like Rishabh and Adhiraj are guaranteeing that the nation’s future on the 64 squares stays brighter than ever.
