Asian Junior Rapid Chess 2026: Vivaan Vishal Shah Wins in Mumbai

India's FM Vivaan Vishal Shah won the Asian Junior Rapid Chess Championship 2026 in Mumbai, while Lala Shohradova won the girls' rapid title.

The Asian Junior Chess Championships 2026 are being held in Mumbai, and Indian players have already made their mark. FM Vivaan Vishal Shah won the Asian Junior Rapid Championship, finishing first on tiebreak with 6 points from 7 games.

The rapid events were 7-round Swiss tournaments at 15 minutes per player plus 10 seconds per move. Players under 20 from across Asia took part.

Vivaan's key win came in round 7, the final round, when he beat IM Apoorv Kamble of India in the Taimanov Sicilian. That victory lifted him to 6 points, level with IM Akshay Borgaonkar, who also won his last game, against the top seed IM Mayank Chakraborty. Vivaan took the title on tiebreak, with Borgaonkar second. It was a great day for India, with Indian players taking the first two places.

In the girls' rapid championship, WFM Lala Shohradova of Turkmenistan took the title on tiebreak with 6 points. India's WFM Pratitee Bordoloi also scored 6 and finished second. Several other Indian girls, including FM Prishita Gupta and WFM Nivedita V C, finished close behind.

The classical championships, the main events of the week, began on 19 August and are now in full swing. They are 9-round Swiss tournaments at a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.

Hosting a continental youth championship at home is a big opportunity for Indian juniors. Playing in front of home support, without long travel, lets young players focus fully on their chess.

Vivaan's final-round win is a lesson in seizing the moment. Going into the last round, he needed a win to have a chance at the title, and he played with confidence against a higher-rated opponent. When the situation calls for a win, play purposeful moves, create chances and trust your preparation.

ChessDaily will report on the classical championships when they finish.