Pics: Silvester D’Souza

Kundapur, May 1: Shriyana Mallya, 8 year old chess prodigy from Mangaluru, has won the Karnataka state level under 11 girls' open chess championship - 2018. This win will make her eligible to represent Karnataka state in the national chess championship.

The chess championship was held under the auspices of Udupi District Chess Association, Sri Siddi Vinayaka Chess Academy, Kundapur and United Karnataka Chess Association from April 29 till May 1 at Sri Siddivinayaka Residential School, Hattiangady, Karki, Kundapur.

Shriyana won 8 out of 9 rounds, 2 rounds being drawn. Altogether there were 66 girl participants in this category.

In the under-11 boys’ category, Siddharth Bhat J of Dakshina Kannada emerged as the winner.

Exactly one year ago, on April 30, 2017 Shriyana had won the bronze medal in the world school chess championship held on Lasi, Romania. She had won another bronze in the blitz tournament held there. Last month she represented India in the Asian school chess championship held in Thailand in the under 8 age category. Her team won the bronze medal for India.

Shriyana was coached by Gahan M G and Sameer Ghotane from Bengaluru.

Shriyana was the national school chess champion as well as Karnataka state chess champion in the under-7 girls' age category. She won these titles on January 7 in Nagpur and on April 4, 2017 in Bengaluru.

Shriyana is the daughter of Sandeep and Nandini Mallya from Hoige Bazar, Urwa, Mangaluru and is the student of Lourdes Central School, Bejai.