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Karnataka’s Young Stars Claim Bronze at 39th National Under-7 Chess Championship
Two Karnataka players, Nimalan Dharanipathy and Rihanshi Muangala, secured bronze medals at the 39th National Under-7 Open and Girls Chess Championship, held at the GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering & Technology in Nagpur from 30 June to 4 July 2026. The five-day event, contested over nine rounds, saw Karnataka’s contingent deliver one of its strongest collective performances at the national level, with five players finishing inside the top 20 across both categories.
Nimalan Dharanipathy Shines in Open Category
Nimalan Dharanipathy, the Karnataka State Under-7 Champion, produced a commanding 8/9 score in the Open section, finishing tied for first place on points. He narrowly missed the national title on tie-breaks and settled for the bronze medal. Despite the narrow margin separating him from the top of the standings, his consistent run across all nine rounds underlined his status as one of the brightest young talents in Indian chess.
Rihanshi Muangala Earns Girls’ Bronze and International Qualification
In the Girls section, Rihanshi Muangala scored 7.5/9 to finish third overall. Like Nimalan, she was tied on points with the silver medallist and missed the runner-up spot only on tie-breaks. Her performance secured both a national bronze medal and qualification for upcoming international championships, marking a significant milestone in her young career.
Karnataka’s Collective Strength on Display
Beyond the two medalists, three other Karnataka players finished inside the top 20, reinforcing the state’s growing reputation in grassroots chess development.
- Vivikshu N – 16th in the Open category with 7/9
- Sathwik Bhat – 19th in the Open category with 6.5/9
- Sai Raksha S J – 10th in the Girls category with 7/9, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament
Tournament Standings – Top Karnataka Finishers
| Player | Category | Final Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimalan Dharanipathy | Open | 3rd (Bronze) | 8/9 |
| Vivikshu N | Open | 16th | 7/9 |
| Sathwik Bhat | Open | 19th | 6.5/9 |
| Rihanshi Muangala | Girls | 3rd (Bronze) | 7.5/9 |
| Sai Raksha S J | Girls | 10th | 7/9 |
A Boost for Karnataka Chess
The Karnataka State Chess Association has congratulated all five players, along with their parents, coaches, district associations, and academies. With one player already securing international qualification and others gaining valuable national-level experience, the championship results point to a strong pipeline of emerging talent from the state heading into future competitions.
Source
This report is based on information published by Karnataka State Chess Association.
Official source: https://karnatakachess.com/double-delight-for-karnataka-as-nimalan-rihanshi-win-national-bronze/
