Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 11: J. S. Virat, a promising young chess player and the reigning Andaman & Nicobar State Chess Champion 2026, has brought immense pride to India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by contributing to India’s team gold medal in the Under-13 Open Rapid event and team silver medal in the Under-13 Open Blitz event at the Commonwealth Schools Chess Championship 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 4 to 12, 2026.
Virat delivered an impressive performance in the Rapid event, scoring 4.5 points, making him the top scorer among the Indian players in his category. His valuable contribution played a significant role in India’s gold-medal-winning performance.
India clinched the team gold in the Rapid event with an aggregate score of 13 points, finishing ahead of Singapore, which secured silver with 12 points, while Sri Lanka claimed the bronze medal.
Virat continued his impressive performance in the Under-13 Open Blitz event, where he once again emerged as the top scorer among the Indian players in his category. His valuable contribution helped the Indian team secure the silver medal, adding another international achievement to his growing chess career.
The championship featured seven age categories for boys and girls separately: Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19. The event was conducted in three formats—Rapid, Blitz and Classical—providing young players with opportunities to compete across different time controls. Young chess talents from several Commonwealth countries, including Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Namibia, Canada, Bangladesh and New Zealand, participated in this prestigious international event. India emerged as the overall champion, winning the championship trophy by securing the highest number of gold medals.
Virat’s outstanding international achievement brings immense pride to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, showcasing the islands’ emerging chess talent and inspiring a new generation of young players.
Meanwhile, FI, IA Neelaiah B from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands officiated at the championship as one of the sector arbiters, representing the islands in an important technical role at this prestigious international chess event.
