30/08/2025
Grand Chess Tournament of Nepal Chess Federation Begins
13th Bhadra, Kathmandu
With the support of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the 2nd National Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives Youth, Cadet, and Girls Chess Championship began on Friday.
Organized by the Nepal Chess Federation, the first day of the tournament witnessed an enthusiastic participation of 544 young players from Nepal.
The event was jointly inaugurated by Nepal’s Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports, Tejulal Chaudhary, and FIDE Management Board’s Executive Director & Super Grandmaster (GM) Victor Bologan.
On the first day, Nepal’s CM Purushottam Silwal (rated 2129) performed exceptionally well and secured the top position.
In the U-18 boys’ category, Adip Gurung (1688), Anugaman Gautam of Pavilions Chess Academy (1691), and Bishesh Shahi (1653), along with three other players, scored full points to lead the table.
In the U-16 girls’ section, Pratima Baskota, Purnima Gurung, Nabina Rai, and Yashaswi Sharma each secured 2 points and remained at the top. In the same group, Olympians Riya Shrestha and Sanskriti Gajurel drew their matches and stood in second place with 1.5 points.
In the U-14 girls’ section, Diya Shrestha of Lalitpur Nightingale School, Shrestha Duwaal of Bhaktapur Khopring School, and Subani Baskota of Mokshada School each secured full 3 points to jointly lead the group.
In the U-12 girls’ section, Nuyuma Magar, Bhawana Woli, Anishma Tamang, Prabista Dawadi, Ujjivani Kandel, Sanvi Poudel, Aina Shahi, Nihina Shrestha, and Prashiddhi Thapa all scored 2 points each to remain at the top.
In the U-10 girls’ section, Agrata Acharya of Pavilions Chess Academy, Glossy Shrestha of Future Star Academy Lalitpur, and Dristhina Basnet of Annapurna School scored points to take the lead.
In the U-8 girls’ section, Subhashree Shrestha of Mahalaxmi Chess Academy Lalitpur and Sara Tamang of Annapurna Secondary School each scored 3 points to jointly lead the group.
Meanwhile, boys’ competitions in the U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories are ongoing.
The tournament is being held at Quality Banquet, Anamnagar, Kathmandu, in the presence of FACI Project Head Ms. Zhazira Iskambetirova and Kazakhstan Chess Federation Deputy Chief, Super GM Dharmen Sadvakassov.
On the occasion, Hon. Minister of Sports Tejulal Chaudhary shared that coordination is ongoing with the Nepal Chess Federation to grant honorary Nepali citizenship to world top player of Nepali origin, Anish Giri.
Super GM Victor Bologan, once a sensation in the global chess scene, expressed his delight to attend such a large-scale youth tournament in Nepal.
Meanwhile, GM Darmen Sadvakassov extend his wishes.
Nepal Chess Federation President Herakaji Maharjan welcomed the guests and expressed confidence that the government of Nepal would support Nepal’s efforts in expanding international relations.
Federation General Secretary Dharam Bahadur Lama, who conducted the opening program, stated that Nepali chess is advancing rapidly.
According to Federation Spokesperson Raju Tamrakar, earlier this morning Super GMs Victor Bologan and Dharmen Sadvakassov simultaneously played chess with 20 young Nepali players.
