In a stunning display of talent and fearless play, a 15-year-old International Master from Trivandrum, Goutham Krishna H, emerged as the breakout star on the opening day of the prestigious FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Doha. While India's established chess icons took to the boards, it was the teenager from Kerala who stole the spotlight with a series of remarkable results against the world's elite.
A Day of Giant-Killing Performances
Goutham Krishna, ranked 80th in India and 1204th in the world with a classical rating of 2433, finished the first day of the rapid segment with an impressive score of 4 points out of a possible 5. His incredible run included victories over strong Grandmasters Aleksandar Indjic, Aravindh Chithambaram VR, and former FIDE World Cup winner Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan. He also held super-GMs Alexander Grischuk and Anish Giri to draws, proving his mettle against the very best.
At the end of Day 1, the young Indian found himself just half a point behind the tournament leaders, a pack that included legends like five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, current world champion Gukesh D, and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. This performance from a relative newcomer sent shockwaves through the chess community.
The Unconventional Style of a Prodigy
Goutham's success was built on a foundation of unorthodox and creative opening choices, showcasing a unique chess intellect. Against Radjabov, he employed the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack (1.b3) with the white pieces, forcing a resignation in just 33 moves. Facing the formidable Grischuk with black, he opted for the rare Owen Defence (1…b6) and successfully neutralized the three-time World Blitz Champion to secure a draw.
His coaches attribute this distinctive style to Goutham's natural learning process. Sreejith GS, his first coach and current mentor, notes, "He was never someone trying to learn from conventional books. He always wanted to play and learn from his mistakes. He studies top-level games to understand strategies and thought processes, and now focuses heavily on unorthodox opening lines."
Raw Talent Meets Rapid Time Control
Srinath Narayanan, who began coaching Goutham after working with Arjun Erigaisi, highlighted the youngster's inherent strengths. "When I started, I noticed he was very sharp and fast—his biggest assets. He was quite raw, with largely natural play and not much formal theoretical knowledge, but he possessed a strong sense and intuition," Srinath explained.
He believes these qualities make Goutham particularly dangerous in faster formats. "His strengths work really well in shorter formats. In rapid, you must make fast, on-the-go decisions, which suits him. Classical chess requires deeper calculation, an area for improvement," Srinath added, outlining the prodigy's profile.
Despite his rising stature in chess, Goutham leads a dual life. Upon returning from Doha, he must immediately focus on his Kerala Pre-Model exams, the preliminary tests before the CBSE Boards, balancing high-pressure academics with world-class competition.
The Quest for Support and a Promising Future
The journey hasn't been easy financially. Goutham's mentor, Sreejith, has spent years seeking sponsorship for the talented boy, with multiple presentations to private and government bodies yielding little result. So far, the costs of his chess career have been borne entirely by his parents—his father Hari, an architect with the Kerala PWD, and mother Simitha.
However, his sensational performance in Doha promises to change that narrative. The chess world has now seen the immense potential within this 15-year-old from Trivandrum. His blend of raw talent, intuitive play, and penchant for dazzling openings marks him as a future star for Indian chess, one whose journey is only just beginning.
