Surprise Star Shines on Day 1 of World Rapid Championships
In a stunning start to the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha, 15-year-old Indian International Master Goutham Krishna stole the spotlight on Day 1 of the Rapid section. The young talent from Kerala scored an impressive 4 out of 5, trailing the leaders – Magnus Carlsen, Arjun Erigaisi, and others – only by half a point.
Photo: Lennart Ootes
Goutham’s phenomenal run included victories over strong grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Teimour Radjabov, while he confidently held former World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk and 2025 Grand Swiss winner GM Anish Giri to draws. His bold, unorthodox openings—like the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack (the famous 1. b3) against Radjabov—showcased remarkable creativity and composure against elite opposition. Taking note of the teenager’s performance, world’s biggest chess YouTuber, GothamChess, posted this on X:
This breakthrough performance could mark a defining moment for Goutham, who is trained by renowned Indian GM Srinath Narayanan. Srinath, a former coach of rising stars like Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, has helped hone Goutham’s skills in fast-paced formats.
Notably, Goutham hails from the same state as Nihal Sarin (also known for his speed chess prowess)—Kerala—adding to the region’s growing chess legacy. At just 15, Goutham Krishna has announced his arrival on the global stage.
