Pranav Clinches World Junior Blitz Title in Al Ain After Rapid Silver

Pranav Claims World Junior Blitz Crown

V. Pranav won the Open title at the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship on Friday in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, scoring 10.5 points out of a possible 13 across 13 rounds. The 20-year-old grandmaster from Chennai finished a full point clear of a trio of joint second-place finishers, capping a standout performance on the blitz board.

Pranav had already made headlines at the same event by securing silver in the Rapid championship earlier in the week, making his Blitz triumph a remarkable double for the Indian star.

Strong Start Carried Through

The Chennai-born GM began the blitz portion with six victories on day one, building enough momentum to carry through into the second day and ultimately seal the title. Having claimed the World Junior Championship in the classical time format last year, Pranav has now added the blitz crown to his collection.

Indian Performances Across Events

India had multiple representatives in contention throughout the championship, with several players producing notable results.

• V. Pranav — Champion (Open Blitz)
• Prraneeth Vuppala — 15th place (Open Blitz), top Indian outside the champion
• Aamuktha Guntaka — 5th place (Girls Blitz)
• B. Savitha Shri — 7th place (Girls Blitz)

The mixed results reflected the competitive depth of the field, with Pranav’s clear victory standing as the standout Indian performance of the tournament.

Al Ain Hosts Successful Championship

The FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship was held in Al Ain, UAE, bringing together some of the finest junior talent from across the globe. The event featured both Rapid and Blitz formats, testing the versatility of competitors across different time controls over the course of the tournament.

Looking Ahead

Pranav’s back-to-back podium finishes in Rapid and Blitz at the World Junior level reinforce his status as one of India’s most talented young players. His ability to perform consistently across time formats suggests a strong foundation for future classical and rapid events on the international circuit.

Source

This report is based on information published by Sportstar (The Hindu) — Chess.

Official source: https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/v-pranav-fide-world-junior-blitz-winner-2026-today-chess-rapid-silver-results/article71676004.ece