India signed off from the Asian Junior Classical Chess Championship 2026 in emphatic fashion as Mayank Chakraborty and Pratitee Bordoloi captured the Open and Girls’ titles respectively in Mumbai.
The home side did more than just win both premier crowns. India finished with four of the six medals available in the Classical Championships, underlining the depth of its junior chess programme and turning the tournament into a celebration of emerging Indian talent.
Mayank Converts Top Billing into Gold
Mayank Chakraborty entered the Open section as the top seed and carried that expectation all the way to the finish.
The Indian finished the nine-round tournament with 7.5 points, securing the gold medal. Russia’s Artem Pingin followed with 7 points, while India’s Daksh Goyal completed the podium with 6.5 points.
Mayank’s title was particularly valuable beyond the medal itself. Already GM-elect, he added another Grandmaster norm to his growing résumé, strengthening his progress towards becoming one of India’s leading young players on the international circuit.
Pratitee Produces the Perfect Golden Companion
If Mayank controlled the Open title race, Pratitee Bordoloi delivered an equally impressive performance in the Girls’ section.
The Indian finished on 7.5 points from nine rounds, taking the championship ahead of Kazakhstan’s Mariya Kholyavko, who scored 7 points. India’s Nivedita V. C. claimed the bronze medal with 6.5 points.
Pratitee’s victory came with a major career boost. Along with the Asian Junior title, she earned the Woman International Master (WIM) title and a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm.
India’s Four-Medal Haul
The final standings highlighted just how strongly India performed on home soil:
Open Championship
Gold: Mayank Chakraborty — 7.5/9
Silver: Artem Pingin — 7/9
Bronze: Daksh Goyal — 6.5/9
Girls’ Championship
Gold: Pratitee Bordoloi — 7.5/9
Silver: Mariya Kholyavko — 7/9
Bronze: Nivedita V. C. — 6.5/9
That meant India collected two gold and two bronze medals, while Russia and Kazakhstan took the remaining silver medals.
FIDE Milestones Add More Shine
The tournament was also significant for several players chasing international titles.
Mayank Chakraborty: Grandmaster norm
Pratitee Bordoloi: WIM title and WGM norm
Daksh Goyal: FIDE Master title and IM norm
Nivedita V. C.: WIM norm
Mariya Kholyavko: WIM norm
Daksh’s bronze was particularly important for India, as his performance combined a continental podium finish with progress towards the International Master title.
A Strong Finish to a High-Pressure Campaign
The final result was built on strong performances throughout the tournament. Going into the decisive final rounds, both Mayank and Pratitee had established themselves as the players to beat. Mayank entered the penultimate round with 7 points from eight games, while Pratitee had also reached 7/8 after winning her Round 8 encounter.
They then completed the job on the final day, turning promising campaigns into championship-winning performances.
The event, held at ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai, was organised by the Maharashtra Chess Association on behalf of the All India Chess Federation and the Asian Chess Federation.
The Bigger Picture
The Mumbai championship offered more than a pair of gold medals for India. It showcased a generation of young players increasingly capable of converting domestic promise into international results.
For Mayank, the latest title is another step towards the Grandmaster milestone. For Pratitee, the combination of an Asian title, WIM title and WGM norm marks a major breakthrough.
With four medals, two continental titles and multiple FIDE achievements, India leaves the Asian Junior Classical Chess Championship with plenty of reason to believe that its next wave of chess stars is already making its mark.
Key Scores and Records
Mayank Chakraborty: 7.5/9 — Open champion
Pratitee Bordoloi: 7.5/9 — Girls’ champion
Artem Pingin: 7/9 — Open silver
Daksh Goyal: 6.5/9 — Open bronze
Mariya Kholyavko: 7/9 — Girls’ silver
Nivedita V. C.: 6.5/9 — Girls’ bronze
India: 4 medals — 2 gold, 2 bronze
Mayank: Additional GM norm
Pratitee: WIM title and WGM norm
Daksh: FM title and IM norm
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