Eight-year-old Telugu-origin chess prodigy Sarayu Talapaneni has created a remarkable achievement on the international chess stage by winning the Under-8 Girls Classical title at the Pan American Youth Chess Championship held in Medellin, Colombia.
Competing against 37 players from North, Central and South American countries, Sarayu delivered a perfect performance. She won all nine rounds to finish with a flawless 9/9 score, defeating top players from seven countries to become the continental champion in her category.
World Cup Opportunity
Following her Pan American victory, Sarayu has earned an opportunity to represent the Americas at the Youth Chess World Cup later this year. She has also provisionally qualified for the official WCM (Woman Candidate Master) FIDE title, becoming one of the youngest players to reach the milestone.
Grand Welcome in Dallas
After returning to Dallas from Colombia, Sarayu received a warm welcome from her family and well-wishers. Local leaders, including the mayors of Irving and Frisco, also congratulated the young champion.
Sarayu was particularly thrilled by congratulatory messages from four-time U.S. Women’s National Chess Champion Carissa Yip and chess personality Sagar Shah. She had met both of them at a Checkmate event last October.
Chess Journey Began at Age Five
Sarayu started learning chess at the age of five through group classes at the Coppell Chess Club. Initially, chess was just one of several activities she enjoyed, alongside Kuchipudi, piano, art and gymnastics.
Her talent was noticed at a local chess tournament, where Anil Gutla advised her mother, Srilakshmi, that Sarayu had strong potential and would benefit from dedicated individual coaching. She later began training under International Master Saksham Rautela and subsequently continued with specialized coaching.
Ranked No. 1
Sarayu now spends about an hour training in chess after school and regularly participates in weekend tournaments. By December 2025, she had reached No. 1 among girls aged seven and under in the U.S. Top 100 list. From January through April 2026, she was also ranked No. 1 in the world by FIDE rating among eligible Under-8 girls.
Despite her growing success, Sarayu continues to attend third grade at Great Hearts in Dallas. She balances academics with chess training while also pursuing activities such as piano and taekwondo.
Sarayu’s father is from Hyderabad, while her mother is from Gannavaram in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. The family is currently based in Dallas.
Her historic 9/9 performance has brought pride to her family and the Telugu community, while her journey continues to inspire young children pursuing their dreams in sports and beyond.
