Candidate Master (CM) Rudr Prasad successfully defended his title as National Blitz Chess Champion at the 2025 National Blitz Chess Championship, showcasing his expertise in a high-stakes contest. Competing alongside his University of the South Pacific teammates, Yash Krishen Maharaj and CM Goru Arvind, Prasad achieved an impressive result, scoring 10 out of 12 points and clinching the victory based on direct encounter results.
The tournament featured a record 50 players playing in a rapid format, giving each competitor only 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move, which added an exciting dynamic to the matches. The intensity of the final rounds played a crucial role in determining the overall champion. Goru Arvind, a volunteer for the Fiji Chess Federation, described the championship as “wild,” highlighting the thrill that accompanied the tightly contested matches.
In the women’s division, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu emerged victorious with a score of 8/12, followed closely by Useli Herath and Jacquelyn Masilomani, who scored 7.5/12 and 7/12, respectively. The event also featured the Secondary School title, won by Zayne Elmond Keshwan of Jai Narayan College with a score of 8/12, while Lionel Vaurasi from Yat Sen Primary School topped the Primary School category with 7.5/12.
A significant aspect of the championship was the participation of students, who made up over 80% of the competitors. This raised optimism for discovering new talent poised to represent Fiji at the upcoming 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Special awards were presented to George Mow for Best Beginner and for Best Upset, while Shaurya Gupta won Best Upset of the Tournament by defeating CM Rudr Prasad in a dramatic finish characterized by a flag-fall.
This tournament not only highlighted the individual skills of the players but also showcased the growing interest in chess among younger generations, echoing the anticipation for future national and international events.
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