Iniyan clinches National Chess title after undefeated run

Grandmaster P Iniyan of Tamil Nadu emerged victorious at the 62nd National Chess Championship here on Wednesday, remaining undefeated over 11 grueling rounds. The 23-year-old collected nine points from a possible 11, securing seven wins and four draws to claim the prestigious title.

Iniyan’s road to victory included wins over state-mate and International Master Harsh Suresh, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy of the Railways, and GM Sasikiran Krishnan of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, who eventually finished third. Going into the final round against Abhijeet Gupta (PSPB), Iniyan led the field but settled for a draw. This allowed IM Goutham Krishna of Kerala, with whom he had drawn in Round 7, to catch up on points. However, Iniyan was declared champion based on superior tie-break results, with Goutham finishing runner-up.

The 10-day tournament saw 394 players from across India, including 14 Grandmasters, 30 International Masters, and 15 FIDE Masters, competing for the national crown.

This win marks Iniyan as the reigning champion in both Classical and Rapid formats, having claimed the National Rapid title earlier in March. His outstanding performance this year has not only boosted his FIDE rating past the 2600 mark but also earned him eligibility for the Asian Championship, Commonwealth Championship, and other international events in 2026.

Iniyan’s consistent play, tactical precision, and calm under pressure underline his growing stature in Indian chess, reinforcing his status as one of the country’s brightest young talents.