Kozhikode: Following in the footsteps of India's R. Praggnanandhaa, young chess prodigy Devanarayanan Kalliyath from Kerala will represent the country in the upcoming Under-8 Asian and World Chess Championships, as well as the Commonwealth Tournament next year.

Devanarayanan, the son of Savandev and Rashmi, hails from Mezhathur, Palakkad. He is a student at Mezhathur Government School and has already amassed numerous accolades, including winning the 37th Under-7 National Chess Championship held in Mysore. This victory has earned him a spot as India's official player for the U-8 Asian and World Championships and the Commonwealth Tournament in 2025.

“He started playing chess at the age of 5. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he first showed interest after watching his brother play online. His growing involvement in the game revealed his innate talent. We decided to find a coach, and within a year, at just 6 years old, he impressed everyone by drawing with Cuban International Master Rodney Oscar Perez Garcia at the Che International Chess Festival 2023. He also excelled in the U-6 state-level competition,” said Devanarayanan's father, Savanadev, in an interview with Mathrubhumi English.

Devanarayanan's brother, Mahadevan Kalliyath, was a member of the state sub-junior chess team last year. Currently, Devanarayan trains under Vishnu Dutt at Akshara Chess Academy and Sandeep Santosh.

The 37th National Under-7 Open and Girls Chess Championship 2024 concluded with a grand ceremony in Mysore on September 6. A total of 382 young chess players from 28 states participated, showcasing remarkable talent and sportsmanship.

The Top 3 winners in the Open Category were: Devanarayanan Kalliyath from Kerala, who finished first with 9/9 points and pocketed a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, followed by Prayank Gaonkar from Goa, who secured 8/9 points and received a cash prize of Rs 36,000 and Aaradhyo Guin from West Bengal, who scored 7.5/9 points and received Rs. 20,000 cash prize.