India’s Velammal MHS School strike gold with perfect score at World Schools Team Chess Championship 2025

India finished ahead of Kazakhstan and USA at the World Schools Team Chess Championship 2025

India’s Velammal MHS School won the World Schools Team Chess Championship 2025 in Alexandria, Virginia, with a perfect 8/8 score, adding another big chapter to the country’s chess success.

The Indian school delivered a dominant performance, winning every match to secure the title with a perfect score. While the title victory was clear, the fight for second place was intense. But Kazakhstan managed to narrowly edge out the USA’s Harker School on tiebreaks.

Velammal is also the home to stars like Grandmasters R. Praggnanandhaa and Leon Mendonca.

The tournament, held in between August 3 and 6 at Episcopal High School featured an eight-round team Swiss format. A total of 55 teams and 286 players from 48 countries competed in the schools championship.

Three players achieved a perfect 8/8 score. Imangali Akhilbay (Kazakhstan) on board two, Edisa Berdibaeva (Kyrgyzstan) on board three, and Pranav K. P. (India) on reserve board five. They have been honoured with individual board medals alongside team trophies for the extraordinary showdown.

The journey was a true adventure for the young chess talents, who had the chance to explore Washington, D.C., after the tournament ended. They visited the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum before heading home.

Also Read: India to host Global Chess League Season 3 in December

The closing ceremony of the World Schools Team Chess Championship 2025 was a vibrant celebration, filled with music and warm applause surrounded by David Hater, FIDE delegate and Executive Board Member of the U.S. Chess Federation.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich then took the stage to congratulate the players. “I want to start by congratulating the winners on their great result! Your success is well-deserved, and I hope you leave here with not only medals but also experiences that will inspire you to achieve even more in life,” he said.

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