Tapan Badamundi wins the 65th Odisha Senior State FIDE Open Chess Championship 2025

Just. Keep. Going.

Tapan Badamundi recently won the 65th Odisha Senior State FIDE Rating Open Chess Championship 2025. A player from a tribal community in Odisha, winning the state title, is a huge achievement for Indian chess. In the last three years, he has consistently improved his performance. In 2022, he narrowly missed the podium when he finished 4th, and in 2024, he finished 3rd due to low Buchholz. Every miss only fueled his determination. This time, he participated with a clear goal of claiming the title. And he just did that!

A key turning point in his preparation came when ChessBase India gifted him a laptop through the ChessBase India YouTube Memberships Program. Before that, he used to train using books, YouTube videos, and Google searches. Plus, he used to do this on his phone. It made his training slow and time-consuming.

The laptop provided by ChessBase India was instrumental in my preparation. It helped me prepare openings with databases, analyze my own games quickly, and study instructive GM games. I could also practice tactics and endgames daily, which improved my confidence. Without it, my training would not have been so effective. Before getting the laptop, I used to prepare openings with books, YouTube chess videos, and by searching for games on Google, which took a lot of time and was not always systematic. With the laptop, my preparation became much faster, more organized, and more professional. - Tapan says.

Tapan shared three of his memorable games from the event with us. The first game is from the third round of the tournament. Tapan faced FM Soumyaranjan Mishra with Black pieces. The critical moment arose in the middlegame when White tried to stir up an attack on the kingside.

After 16...Ne7, the usual idea was to defend the d5-pawn with c3–c4. Instead, White went for 17.Ng5, aiming for kingside play. If Black had replied with 17...h6, then 18.Ne4 Nxd5 19.Bxh6! Bxh6 20.Rxd5 Rxd5 21.Nf6+ would have given White the upper hand. But in the game, Tapan found the best move, 17...Bc4! He took control of the position. Play went on with 18.Qe4 Bxd5 19.Qh4, but White’s attack was only an illusion. Step by step, Tapan forced the white pieces back, and after 19...h6 20.Nf3 Qb7 21.Rxd5 Qxd5 22.Bg5 f6 23.Be3 Nf5 24.Qg4 Qf7, he emerged with a solid material advantage and full control of the game.

"This victory gave me a lot of confidence to continue fighting for the top spot," Tapan shares.

In Round 5, Tapan faced Nilsu Pattnaik, another strong rising player from Odisha. The game ended in a draw, but what stood out was how comfortably Tapan held his ground. At no point did Black have any advantage. The half point was important for Tapan to keep fighting for the top spot.

The final game against Omm Aditya Khadanga was the one that would not only seal the trophy for Tapan but also secure his spot at the National Chess Championship 2025. “It was a tense game,” Tapan recalls. But then came the critical blunder, 18...Qe6.

What do you think Black missed here? Check out the game below to find out.

With this win, Tapan secured one of the top four spots to represent Odisha at the forthcoming National Chess Championship 2025, scheduled from 21 September to 1 October at Vignan University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

As per my coach's advice, I mainly focused on endgames and middlegames, which helped me avoid blunders and improve my calculations in critical moments. - Tapan shared what helped him win the title.

Tapan comes from a region named Paralakhemundi in Odisha. His success is built on the support and guidance he has received along the way. Many people stood by him through every step of his journey. His first coach, Subas Chandra Satapathy, was the one who sparked his love for the game and motivated him to keep going. Later, Gourahari Mahapatra played a crucial role in sharpening his preparation and guiding him through tournaments.

GM Swayams Mishra's online classes proved to be instrumental in Tapan's training. His guidance, without charging anything, boosted Tapan’s confidence to the next level.

"Nowadays, GM training is very costly and not affordable for me, but despite this situation, Sir has been helping me free of cost," Tapan expresses with gratitude.

Tapan also benefited greatly from practice sessions with Pro-Chess-Ta, and he acknowledges the encouragement he has always received from KT Global School and IIG Sports Academy.

"Both KT Global School and IIG Sports Academy have been helping me in my chess journey by providing encouragement and opportunities to grow as a player. Jyoti Nanda Sir, the Director of KT Global School and IIG Sports Academy, has personally supported and guided me throughout, which has made a big difference in my progress," Tapan says.

His chess roots go back to KIIT & KISS Institutions, where his journey first began.

"KISS is an institution where more than 40,000 tribal students are currently receiving free education from KG up to PhD and beyond. Along with academics, the institution also provides free sports training and various other curricular activities. I studied there from the 5th standard to my graduation, completely free of cost. This is where I first started my chess journey, and it gave me the foundation and opportunities that helped me grow as a player and reach this stage in my career," Tapan shares.

Behind the scenes, Tapan has always had the unwavering support of Utkal Ranjan Sahoo and Rajesh Nayak, whom he fondly calls his brothers.

What can you achieve through hard work and belief? This story is the answer. Tapan grew up in a tribal community where opportunities were few and resources were limited. Yet, he turned his challenges into his strength. His journey is an inspiration for those who have ever felt held back by their circumstances.