Two of Kerala’s best young chess players spent 5 September at Mall of Travancore with the children of Thiruvananthapuram. IM Goutham Krishna, from Ernakulam, became an International Master in 2024. He won the National Under 12 title in 2022 and the National Sub-Junior title in 2025, and at the 2025 World Rapid Championship he beat grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Teimour Radjabov. WCM Anupam Sreekumar, also from Kerala, won the National Under 11 Girls title in 2019 with 10.5 points from 11 rounds, finishing two full points clear of the field, and holds the title of Woman Candidate Master.
Ms. Subha Rakesh with our chief guests, IM Goutham Krishna and WCM Anupam Sreekumar, at the championship backdrop.
They came as chief guests to the Prime Engage Jr. Chess Championship, and what they represent was plain to every child in the hall. Goutham’s first national title came in Under 12, and Anupam’s in Under 11, which are the same kinds of age categories our players were competing in that day. Both started where the children at the boards were sitting. It is one thing to be told that a national title is possible, and another to meet two people from your own state who have won one.
The hall at Mall of Travancore during play, with the balconies full of families.
The round was held at Mall of Travancore, a large mall in Thiruvananthapuram that opened in 2018 and is known as India’s first green mall. Rows of boards filled the floor, with festive decorations overhead and families packed into every free space around the players.
Kerala has now hosted us twice, and some familiar partners came back with us. Ms. Subha Rakesh, our chess partner who first backed us in Kochi, partnered with us again in Thiruvananthapuram, and Playaza, the gaming partner in Kochi, returned as well. It was the second round we have worked on together, and it made Thiruvananthapuram feel like a continuation of Kochi rather than a new start.
The day also had a comeback at its centre. In June, Master Fidel R S finished on the podium in Under 8 at our Kochi round. On 5 September he came to Thiruvananthapuram, played the same six rounds again and this time won the Under 8 title, which also qualified him for the zonal round. Going back to the same championship after a result that fell short of the top is not a small thing for a young player. We are proud of Fidel’s fighting spirit and congratulate him on a well-deserved title.
The commemorative trophy for IM Goutham Krishna.
Players in Thiruvananthapuram were divided into four age categories, Under 8, Under 10, Under 12 and Under 16, and the winner of each category goes through to the zonal round. Prize money of ₹29,000 for the city was shared among the top five players in each category, and all five received trophies. Every child who played received a medal and a digital certificate. The championship is not a rated event, so results do not affect anyone’s rating.
Master Fidel R S won Under 8, with Master Dhyan Shanu as runner-up. In Under 10 the champion was Master Paarvan S A, with Master Karna S Arun second. Master Sahya Kailas took Under 12, with Master Joel S Shan as runner-up, and Master Devegk R won Under 16, with Master Ameya A R runner-up.
Mall of Travancore hosted us as venue partner, with Portronics as gadget partner and Playaza as gaming partner. Fidel and the other category winners now go on to the zonal round later this season.
More city reports from this season: Jabalpur, Kochi, Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolhapur, Mysuru.
Photos and updates from every city are shared on Instagram at @chess_with_primeengage.
- prime engage junior chess championship
- thiruvananthapuram
