Report :FIDE World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad at Barranquilla, Colombia from 17th August to 22nd August 2025.

It was a Golden beginning of the Indian Junior Chess Team here in FIDE World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad at Barranquilla, Colombia which started from 17^th August to 22^nd August 2025. It was a total of 9 Rounds championship in which total 85 Teams participated from different parts of the World.

The members of Indian team are WFM Prishita Gupta, IM Ethan Vaz, IM A.R. Ilamparthi and CM Prathamesh Sherla leading Coach and Captain as GM Himanshu Sharma.

Team India was seeding 8^th at the beginning of the championship which initiated on 17^th August 2025.

In First 5 Rounds, Team India was playing solidly and marching equivalent with the Leader of Team FIDE 1 by winning all their relevant matches against Curacao 1, El Salvador 1, Colombia 13, Kazakhstan 1 and Colombia 1 respectively from 1^st round to 5^th rounds,when they were riding the tournament with a very nice pace and beating the other teams with decent margins.

Later in 6^th Round, Team India was facing the team FIDE 1 who was the leader having 3 GMs and One WGM was tournament favorite in which they produced good fighting spirits and has the chance to overrule them but fumbles in the end which was their first defeat in the tournament.

In 7^th Round, Team India bounced back nicelyagainst Uzbekistan and won in tensed battle which can go either way in Time-pressure matches. But Team India holds their nerves and performed as required.

FIDE 1 continued their winning spree and holds the 1^st position. While Team Kazakhstan 1 was holding 2^nd position and Team India was holding 3^rd position at this moment.

In 8^th Round, Team India was facing against FIDE 2 which turns out to be a sad day for the team since they were unable to hold their earlier spot and losses in the end.  Team FIDE 2 played energetically in most of their boards and get the sweet result of success in the end. It was a tormenting defeat for Team India.

In 9^th Round, Team India was facing Team Canada in which it was necessary to win last round in order to come in Merit List but unfortunately it ended in a Draw. Team India is unable to produce favourable results and fumbles in the end.

On the brighter note, it was nice to witness that Indian CM Prathamesh Sherla won the Board Price on 4^th Board by making 8 points from 9 rounds while IM A.R. Ilamparthi is able to achieved 3^rd position on 3^rd Board by making 7points from 9 rounds

Overall, it was a very lovely beginning for Team India but in last few rounds, Team India was unable to convert the desired results.