A 15-year-old International Master from Trivandrum, Goutham Krishna H, stole the show on day one of the World Rapid 2025 in Doha. Starting as the 187th seed with a rapid rating of 2392, he took down grandmasters and drew with the elite, proving talent knows no rank.
World Rapid 2025 Day 1
The atmosphere in Doha was electric, much like a high-stakes chess battle where every move counts. Goutham Krishna kicked off with fireworks, defeating strong GMs like Aleksandar Indjic, Aravindh Chithambaram VR, and even Azerbaijan’s Teimour Radjabov in 33 moves using the rare 1.b3 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack.
He held Alexander Grischuk to a draw with the unconventional 1…b6 Owen Defence and matched Anish Giri. By day’s end, he sat just half a point behind leaders like five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh, and Arjun, pure cinema on the board.
What Makes Goutham Krishna Special?
Goutham Krishna’s coaches say it’s his sharp intuition and love for unorthodox openings. Mentor Sreejith GS notes he learns by playing, studying top players’ games, and embracing mistakes rather than rote books. Current coach Srinath Narayanan, who trained Arjun Erigaisi, calls him “raw talent” with natural sense, perfect for rapid, where quick decisions trump deep calculation. In classical chess, he needs polish, but rapid chess is his playground.
Goutham’s path hasn’t been easy. Ranked 80th in India and 1204th globally at 2433 FIDE, he balances chess with academics, facing Kerala Pre-Model exams right after Doha. His parents, father Hari, an architect, and mother Simitha, foot all bills, as sponsorship hunts by Sreejith have hit dead ends. Yet, this Trivandrum boy’s razzle-dazzle style has eyes turning worldwide.
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World Rapid 2025 day 1’s exploits closed gaps in standings and lit hopes for India’s next big thing. Goutham shows chess isn’t just theory, it’s bold moves and fearless play. As the tournament heats up, watch this rising star. He might just redefine the rapid game.
Also read: World Rapid And Blitz 2025: Gukesh, Carlsen, And Arjun Share Lead
