GM Raja Rithvik, hailing from Telangana, has brought home a silver medal from the La Plagne International Chess tournament in France. This young chess prodigy displayed remarkable resilience and skill, remaining undefeated throughout the nine-round tournament, which featured 184 players from 22 countries.
Rithvik, seeded ninth, emerged victorious in five games and secured four draws, ultimately securing a total of seven points. He found himself tied for second place with GM Iniyan Panneerselvam, also with seven points. However, the tie-break rule ultimately awarded second place to Rithvik. GM Moussard Jules (France) claimed the top spot with 7.5 points.
The final round saw a tense 28-move draw between Rithvik, playing with black pieces, and Jules, playing with white pieces. Rithvik, who is currently pursuing an engineering degree at KL University, is dedicated to his chess training under the guidance of N. Rama Raju at RACE Chess Academy. Rama Raju also served as the coach for renowned GM Dronavalli Harika. Rithvik further enhances his skills through online coaching with Alexander Goloshchapov from Ukraine.
“I am incredibly pleased with my performance and am committed to continuous improvement,” Rithvik shared, reflecting on his recent successes. Earlier this year, he secured a silver medal at the 2024 National Blitz championship and a bronze at the National rapid championship in March.
K.S. Prasad, President of the Telangana State Chess Association, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Rithvik on his exceptional achievement. “We are proud of his dedication and commitment to the sport, and we wish him continued success at the highest level,” Prasad stated.
