Bengaluru‘s 13-year-old chess prodigy Pratitee Bordoloi scripted history by winning the silver medal in the Girls Under-18 category at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Youth Chess Championship held in Montesilvano, Italy.
Lone Indian medallist at global event
Pratitee, a Woman FIDE Master (WFM), emerged as India’s only medallist at the prestigious championship, which saw participation from 758 players representing 83 countries between June 15 and 26.
Her remarkable performance also earned her the first Woman International Master (WIM) norm of her career, marking another significant milestone in her rising chess journey, according to the Karnataka State Chess Association.
India fielded 13 players across six categories at the tournament, but Pratitee was the only player to return home with a medal.
Unbeaten run to silver
A student of Shishya BEML Public School, Pratitee qualified to represent India after winning the National Under-17 Girls Chess Championship in Ahmedabad earlier this year.
She remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, finishing with an impressive nine points from 11 rounds. Her campaign included seven victories and four draws, without suffering a single defeat.
Pratitee opened the championship with four consecutive wins, quickly moving into joint leadership and maintaining her consistency until the final rounds to secure the silver medal.
Rising star of Indian chess
Competing in the Under-18 category despite being only 13 years old, Pratitee’s achievement has been widely hailed as a testament to her talent, discipline and determination.
Her silver medal and maiden WIM norm further strengthen Karnataka’s reputation as a nurturing ground for young chess talent and add another proud chapter to India’s growing success on the international chess stage