Pritika Nandi Crowned National Under-9 Girls Champion After Dominant Performance

Pritika Nandi (1644) produced an impressive attacking display to defeat Anaya Sharma (1462) in Round 3 of the 39th Indian National Under-9 Girls Chess Championship 2026.

The game began with a Catalan Opening, where both players developed harmoniously and reached a balanced middlegame. Pritika gradually seized the initiative by advancing her central pawn to d5 and later launching an ambitious kingside expansion with f4, f5, and g4. These pawn advances restricted Black’s pieces and created long-term attacking chances against the king.

Anaya responded solidly, but her pieces were gradually pushed into passive positions as White increased the pressure. The turning point came when Pritika transferred her rooks to the kingside, first with Rf3–g3 and later doubling heavy pieces around Black’s king. While Black attempted counterplay on the queenside with …b5 and …Rb6, White’s attack was already gathering dangerous momentum.

The decisive breakthrough arrived with 32.g5, opening lines towards the black king. After a series of exchanges, Pritika’s pieces occupied dominant attacking squares, and Black struggled to coordinate her defence. The elegant rook lift 36.Rh5 followed by 37.Rh8 left Black under tremendous pressure.

When Black tried to create an escape route with 38…g6, it was already too late. Pritika finished the game in style with the picturesque checkmate 39.R3h7#, completing a well-executed kingside attack and maintaining her strong start to the championship.

One of the most important games of the championship came in Round 6, where Pritika Nandi (1644) defeated top contender and Woman Candidate Master Anvi Deepak Hinge (1673) after a long and hard-fought struggle.

The game began with the Budapest Defense, Rubinstein Variation. Both players navigated the opening confidently, but Pritika gradually gained the upper hand by winning the pawn on c7 and forcing Black to spend valuable time regaining coordination. The middlegame remained tense as Anvi sought active counterplay with central and kingside pressure, while Pritika responded with precise defensive play.

A key moment arrived after the queens were exchanged. Pritika steadily improved her position, activating her pieces and creating pressure on both flanks. The transition into the rook and minor-piece endgame showcased her excellent understanding of endgame strategy. By advancing her kingside pawns and restricting Black’s knight, she gradually forced concessions from her higher-rated opponent.

The decisive breakthrough came after 42.g5, when White’s active king and better pawn structure began to dominate the position. Following a series of exchanges, Pritika won critical pawns and created a dangerous passed a-pawn. Despite determined resistance, Black was unable to stop its march.

After promoting the pawn on a8, Pritika converted the queen ending with confidence. The game concluded beautifully with 61.Qe7#, capping off a memorable victory against one of the tournament favourites and significantly boosting her title aspirations.

Pritika Nandi (1644) produced another mature performance in Round 9 of the 39th Indian National Under-9 Girls Chess Championship, defeating Arpitangshi Bhattacharya (1545) in a strategically well-played Catalan Opening.

After a balanced opening phase, Pritika gradually took control of the position by exploiting Black’s inaccuracies in the centre. Her active piece placement and superior coordination allowed her to seize the initiative, while Black was forced into a passive defensive setup. The exchange of queens on move 18 led to a favourable middlegame where White’s pieces enjoyed greater activity and freedom.

The critical phase began when Pritika created a dangerous passed d-pawn. Supported by active rooks and a well-placed bishop, the pawn became a constant source of pressure, restricting Black’s options and tying down her pieces. As the game progressed, Pritika switched her attention to the queenside, creating additional weaknesses and eventually generating a second passed pawn.

With Black’s forces stretched thin, White’s advantage grew steadily. Pritika demonstrated excellent technique in converting her positional edge, advancing her connected passed pawns and forcing decisive concessions. After 42…Rab8, Black’s position became extremely difficult to defend, and White’s pawns surged forward. The game effectively ended after 45.c8=Q, when promotion ensured a winning material advantage.

This victory further strengthened Pritika’s position in the standings and kept her firmly among the leading contenders with two crucial rounds still to be played.

Round 10 witnessed one of the most significant encounters of the championship as Pritika Nandi (1644), playing Black, defeated fellow contender Sai Anshitha Puvvala (1645) in a tense and strategically rich struggle.

The game began with the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, where both players developed harmoniously and reached a balanced middlegame. Neither side rushed matters, instead focusing on piece activity and long-term plans. Following the exchange of queens on move 21, the game entered an endgame where accuracy and patience became paramount.

Pritika gradually improved her position by activating her rooks and creating pressure along the open files. Her pawn structure remained solid, while White struggled to find a clear plan. The critical turning point arrived when White chose 40.axb5, allowing Black to create a dangerous passed a-pawn and seize the initiative on the queenside.

Sensing her opportunity, Pritika switched gears brilliantly. The advance …e4 opened new lines, while her connected passed pawns and active rook created constant threats. White’s attempt to generate counterplay with the advanced e-pawn proved insufficient as Black’s pieces dominated the board.

The decisive mistake came with 45.e6, after which Pritika’s queenside pawns became unstoppable. She converted her advantage with impressive precision, winning material and advancing her passed b-pawn deep into enemy territory. After 58…Ra1, White’s position was beyond salvation, and the victory gave Pritika a vital point heading into the final round of the championship.

Pritika Nandi (1644) concluded her campaign at the 39th Indian National Under-9 Girls Chess Championship with an impressive attacking victory over Teesha Byadwal (1593) in the final round.

The game began as a Catalan Opening, with both players following well-known strategic ideas. Teesha accepted the queenside pawn structure and initially held a balanced position. However, the turning point arrived in the middlegame when Black’s pieces became slightly uncoordinated, allowing Pritika to seize the initiative.

After 16…Nxd2 and the subsequent 17…Qxd4, White found a powerful tactical sequence. The energetic move 18.Nxc6 increased the pressure and exposed weaknesses around Black’s king. Pritika’s pieces quickly sprang to life, with her knights, queen and rooks working together harmoniously. The advance 21.e5 further restricted Black’s position and prevented effective defence.

The decisive moment came after 23…Be6, a mistake that allowed White to launch a direct attack against the exposed king. Pritika responded accurately with 24.Qb7+, followed by the powerful rook sacrifice on d7 that forced Black’s king into the open. Once the king was driven into the centre, the attack became impossible to stop.

The game concluded with a picturesque mating net. After 27…Qf4, Pritika calmly exchanged queens with 28.Qxf4#, delivering checkmate and bringing her tournament to a memorable close with a crisp tactical finish.