NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa’s Evan Antonio Telles won gold in the Under-8 Rapid category and silver in the Under-8 Blitz event at the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2026 held in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
The eight-year-old also secured fifth place in the Under-8 Standard category at the FIDE-rated tournament organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from May 16 to 26 at the Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa.
Representing India after qualifying as the National Under-8 gold medallist, Evan competed against 41 players from different countries across the Standard, Rapid and
Blitz formats.
Evan claimed the Rapid gold medal with a perfect seven points from seven rounds, defeating De Silva Ayen Regan, Nethvidu Uthesh, AFM Thevin, Weththasinghe Dewneth, AFM Sethmira and Jayawardhana Deerada, all from Sri Lanka, along with Leo Cordue of
New Zealand.
In the Blitz event, Evan scored 6.5 points to finish second. He registered wins over Weththasinghe Dewneth and Jayasooriya Jehansa of Sri Lanka, Riaansh Pitale and Ishaan Agnihotri of India, AFM Himeth Sethmira and Bandara Pethmika of Sri Lanka, while drawing against Cheetransh Malhotra of India.
In the Standard category, Evan scored six points to finish fifth after victories against Fischer Ernst of South Africa, Weththasinghe Dewneth and Anudya Isula of Sri Lanka, along with Cheetransh Malhotra and Riaansh Pitale of India. He also drew against Om Esh Gottumukkala of India and Wijesooriya Yenura Chanul of
Sri Lanka.
