Interview with ChessBase India
Fresh off his triumph in Jammu & Kashmir, we caught up with the newly crowned National Under-17 Champion, FM Adhiraj Mitra. In this candid conversation, the 14-year-old reflects on his title run, handling pressure in critical rounds, his rich chess lineage, and the team of coaches shaping his journey.
Devansh Singh: How does it feel to win your first U-17 National title?
Adhiraj Mitra: Winning my first Under-17 National title feels absolutely amazing! It's a moment of immense pride, happiness, and gratitude. All the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication have finally paid off. This victory motivates me to dream bigger, work harder, and aim for even greater achievements. It's not just a title; it's the beginning of a beautiful journey.
Devansh: In the last round, you played against Madhvendra Pratap Sharma in a must-win situation. What was your prep and mindset before the game?
Adhiraj: I was quite nervous, as winning the last round was crucial for me if I wanted to fight for the 1st place. On the other hand, I was playing against a very strong player and a very good friend of mine, Madhvendra Pratap Sharma. Still, I chose to keep the pressure aside and play based on the position that comes on the board.
Devansh: When did your chess journey begin, and what initially drew you to the game?
Adhiraj: My professional chess journey began on 15th August 2018 when I played my first tournament, and I managed to win it! My family members from my mother's side were chess players. My maternal uncles, Abhishek Das, Dushyant Das, and my mom's younger sister, Alka Das, were international chess players. Abhishek Das was an Asian Gold Medalist, an IM-elect with 5 IM norms and a peak Elo of over 2383. My other maternal uncle, Dushyant Das, had a peak FIDE rating of over 2100, and my mom's younger sister, Alka Das, had a peak Elo of 2000+ and she was also an India Women's top 10 chess player.
Devansh: Who have been your coaches so far, and how long did you train with each?
Adhiraj: I have worked with several coaches over the years. I first learnt chess from my maternal grandfather, and I learnt how the knight moves within a day. After that, to learn the basics, I used to visit Ashok Verma sir's house and train there. After I got my FIDE rating in November 2019, the lockdown came, and my maternal uncles got enough time to train me.
My maternal uncle Dushyant Das has been my main coach since 2020 and regularly works with me offline, while my other maternal uncle, FM Abhishek Das, plans my tournament schedule, plans my chess classes, and also takes regular online classes for me. I currently attend Chola Chess camps regularly, which has been very useful for my growth. WGM Priyanka Nutakki ma'am and GM Pravin Thipsay sir both take regular online classes for me, and GM Ankit Rajpara and GM Swapnil Dhopade are also involved in my regular training. I also attend GM Swayams Mishra sir's group classes, and GM Thejkumar sir & Abhishek Das help me plan tournaments.
Devansh: Which game was the most important in your pursuit of the Championship?
Adhiraj: Every game was important, but the most critical round for me was against Vedant Garg in Round 9, as he was in very good shape and he was crushing every player who was coming in his way, so beating him was very important as he was the only player on 7.5 points and I, along with a few other players, was on 6.5 points. The game went on for over 4.5 hours, but I managed to grind out the full point, which gave me enough confidence to play for the championship.
Devansh: What was your target going into the tournament?
Adhiraj: When going into the tournament, my goal was only to get into the top three and play good quality chess.
At just 14, FM Adhiraj Mitra’s undefeated run to the National Under-17 title proves his exceptional talent and composure under pressure. Supported by a remarkable team of coaches and family, this victory is only the beginning of a promising journey ahead. ChessBase India congratulates Adhiraj and wishes him the very best for his upcoming international challenges!
