London is currently the epicentre of team chess, hosting the third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships from June 10 to 16. This year`s event is notable not only for its expanded scale, featuring 55 teams, an increased prize fund, and the addition of a Blitz tournament, but particularly for the significant presence and impact of young, rising stars alongside established Grandmasters. This isn`t merely a participation exercise; these young talents are demonstrably shaping the competitive landscape.
The tournament structure allows teams of all levels to compete, fostering a unique environment where seasoned professionals clash with the next generation. While no specific rules mandated the inclusion of juniors, many teams have strategically integrated young players, recognising their potential to contribute meaningfully. Their performance underscores a noticeable generational shift occurring at the highest echelons of competitive chess.
Key Young Talents Making Their Mark
The event features a compelling roster of young players whose achievements at tender ages suggest a potentially disruptive future for the established order. Here are some of the notable youngsters capturing attention in London:
- Shreyas Royal (16, England): Representing the `Rookies` team, Shreyas is already a Grandmaster, having achieved the title at just 15 years and 7 months in August 2024, making him the youngest British player to do so. His participation follows solid performances, including at the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss and the 2024 British Chess Championship.
- Deborah Quickpen (13, Nigeria): Playing for `Mother Continent`, Deborah`s journey began remarkably early, learning chess at age three. By eleven, she had become the youngest-ever Nigerian Chess Champion in 2023, a national record.
- Bodhana Sivanandan (10, England): An English Woman FIDE Master on the `e-therapeutics` team. Bodhana honed her skills during the 2020 lockdown and quickly earned European U8 Rapid and Blitz silver medals in March 2022. In July 2024, she achieved another remarkable milestone: becoming the youngest individual selected for an English national team in any sport for the 45th Chess Olympiad.
- Roman Shogdzhiev (10): Also part of the `Rookies` squad, Roman recently made history on May 25th by becoming the youngest International Master ever, at the age of 10 years, 3 months, and 21 days. He previously gained significant attention in December 2023 by defeating five Grandmasters at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships when he was only eight.
- Faustino Oro (11, Argentina): Competing for `Turkish Airlines Sports Club`, Faustino is an International Master who set a record in 2023 as the youngest player to reach a classical rating of 2300. He famously defeated Magnus Carlsen in a Bullet Brawl tournament in March 2024 and held the record for the youngest International Master until May 2025.
- Sofia Blokhin (19, Estonia): A Woman FIDE Master with `Olala Stars`. Sofia is the reigning World Rapid Champion in the Girls Under-18 category (2024) and holds multiple European titles. She has also represented Estonia in two Chess Olympiads.
- Zsóka Gaál (18, Hungary): A Woman Grandmaster for `Team Hungary`. Zsóka earned her WGM title in November 2024 and has a strong record in youth championships, including the 2016 European Youth (U10 girls) and the 2021 online World Youth (U14 girls) titles.
- Marc`Andria Maurizzi (18, France): Playing for `Knight Dance`, Marc`Andria is a French Grandmaster who became his country`s youngest GM at 14 years and 5 days in May 2021. His notable results include sharing first place at the 2023 World Junior Chess Championship and a victory at the strong Djerba Masters in February 2025 with an exceptional tournament performance rating of 2898.
- Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş (13, Turkey): A Grandmaster on the `Generation XYZA` team. Yağız obtained his GM title in April 2024 at 12 years and 10 months and became the youngest player to surpass the 2600 Elo mark in September 2024. He has posted strong finishes in several significant tournaments.
- Pranav Venkatesh (18, India): Representing `Team MGD1`, Pranav became India`s 75th GM in 2022. He recently clinched the World Junior Chess Championship title in March 2025 and holds two gold medals from the U-18 section of the FIDE World Youth Rapid and Blitz Championship.
- Sarbartho Mani (9, India): An Arena FIDE Master listed with the `Freedom` team, which includes legendary Viswanathan Anand. Sarbartho won the National Under-7 Open Championship in 2023 at age seven with a perfect 9/9 score.
The presence and performance of these individuals are more than just feel-good stories; they represent a significant shift in the chess landscape. The intensity and depth of training available today mean prodigies are reaching elite levels faster than ever before. Their ability to compete, and often succeed, against players with decades more experience demonstrates a remarkable acceleration in talent development. London isn`t just hosting a tournament; it`s offering a front-row seat to the future of chess as it unfolds, piece by piece, record by record. The veterans are certainly challenged by this wave of youthful precision and audacious play.
Gilbert Pendleton