Athul KP
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MARGAO: Eight-year-old Evan Antonio Telles from Margao won a bronze medal for India in the Under-8 Blitz event at the 28th Asian Youth Chess Championship 2026, held in Shenzhen, China, from July 15 to 25.
Evan scored seven points from nine rounds to finish third in a strong field featuring some of Asia’s best young chess players. The championship brought together 893 players from 30 Asian Chess Federation member countries and featured competitions in the Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 categories in both the Open and Girls sections.
“It was a proud moment for me. I feel very happy to have won a bronze medal for India. Standing on the podium at such a big tournament was a special feeling, and it has motivated me to train harder. The Asian Youth Chess Championship is one of the toughest tournaments for young players, so winning a medal here means a lot to me,” he said.
Evan said every match was challenging, but a victory over a top-ranked player gave him the confidence to fight for a medal.
“After that game, I started believing that I could finish on the podium,” he said.
Although he faced strong opponents from different countries, Evan said he focused only on his own game.
“I never thought about my opponent’s rating or where they were from. I trusted my preparation and tried to make the best move in every position,” he said.
Before travelling to China, Evan trained with his coach, Prakash Vikram Singh, solving chess puzzles, analysing games, improving his openings and endgames, and playing practice matches.
The tournament also taught him valuable lessons that will help him become a more competitive player.
“I learned that every move matters because one mistake can change the result of a game. I also met players from many countries. Even though language was sometimes a challenge, I learned a few Chinese words and made many new friends. It was a wonderful experience,” he said.
Away from chess, Evan enjoys playing football and spending time with his elder brother, Joshua Telles, who is also an accomplished chess player.
His parents said the bronze medal was a proud and emotional moment for the family.
“We are extremely proud of Evan. Watching him win a medal for India and stand on the podium was unforgettable. All his hard work and dedication have paid off,” they said.
Evan started playing chess at the age of four after accompanying his elder brother to tournaments. He won his first trophy the same year and has continued to improve under the guidance of coach Prakash Vikram Singh.
His parents said supporting Evan’s chess career has required considerable time, financial commitment and constant travel. They added that his mother left her profession as a dental surgeon to travel with him and support his training and participation in tournaments.
The family also thanked Manovikas English Medium School for helping Evan balance his studies with his chess commitments.
Looking ahead, Evan’s parents said they hope he continues to learn from every tournament and moves closer to his dream of becoming a Grandmaster and representing India at the highest level.
“Our aim is not only to win medals but also to help him improve with every tournament. We hope he continues to grow as a player and make India proud in the years ahead,” they said.
