Jamshedpur, Dec 22: With the completion of the ninth round on Monday, the National Junior Chess Championship has entered its crucial and decisive stage, as close contests and key results tightened the race for the titles in both boys’ and girls’ sections. Top players continued to battle fiercely, with International Master Ethan Vaz of Goa and Woman FIDE Master Shubhi Gupta of Uttar Pradesh maintaining their lead positions.
Boys’ Section: Ethan Vaz Strengthens Grip at the Top
In the most awaited encounter of the boys’ section, IM Ethan Vaz (Goa) showcased his experience and strategic depth to defeat IM Mohammed Imran (Andhra Pradesh) while playing with the black pieces. The long and tense battle turned in Ethan’s favour during the middlegame, allowing him to consolidate his position at the top of the standings with 7½ points.
Another key match on the top boards saw Vignesh Advait Vemula (Telangana) and IM Mayank Chakraborty (Assam) play out a hard-fought draw, keeping both players in strong contention. Meanwhile, IM Akshay Borgaonkar (Maharashtra) scored an important victory over state-mate Siddhant Salunke, strengthening his position in the upper half of the table.
After nine rounds, Ethan Vaz leads the boys’ standings, followed closely by Mayank Chakraborty in second place and FM Arnav Maheshwari (Tamil Nadu) in third. With only a narrow points gap separating the leaders, the upcoming rounds promise high drama.
Girls’ Section: Shubhi Gupta Stays Ahead, Divya Patil Shines
In the girls’ section, top seed WFM Shubhi Gupta (Uttar Pradesh) played out a tense draw against WFM Niveditha VC (Tamil Nadu) on the top board. Despite the draw, Shubhi retained her lead with 7½ points.
The highlight of the round came from Divya Patil (Maharashtra), who produced a stunning upset by defeating the higher-rated WCM Shravyasri Bhimarasetti (Andhra Pradesh). The victory significantly reshaped the standings and marked Divya as a serious title contender. In another notable result, WFM Arshiya Das (Tripura) defeated WFM Saranya Devi Narahari (Andhra Pradesh) in a well-controlled game.
Following round nine, Shubhi Gupta remains in first place, with Divya Patil climbing to second and Niveditha VC holding third position.
As the championship moves into its final rounds, the close margins and rising intensity suggest an exciting finish, with several players still firmly in contention for top honours.
