Sai Vivan Karthikeya Somaaraju, a rising star in the world of chess, is making New Zealand proud with his impressive achievements and unwavering dedication to the sport. At just 11 years old, Sai has already carved out a place for himself on the international chess scene. This year, he has been selected to compete in two of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world:
•FIDE World Cup Under 12 (Open Division) – June 22 to July 3, 2025
• FIDE World Cadet Championships U12
These selections reflect Sai’s exceptional talent and commitment and mark a significant milestone in his growing career.
International Achievements
Sai’s journey began at a very young age, and his international record speaks volumes. In 2023, he was crowned the Under-10 Oceania Champion at the Oceania Youth Championship in Australia. Most recently, he secured the Under-12 Champion title at the 132nd New Zealand Chess Congress held in early 2025. Prior to that, Sai had already claimed top honours in the Under-10 and Under-8 categories at various national-level tournaments.
In July 2024, Sai took part in the Auckland Chess Weekend, a globally recognized event that was part of a Guinness World Record attempt sanctioned by FIDE. Notably, in 2021, at just 8 years old, he represented Team New Zealand in the Asian Nations Cup Online U14, competing against much older and more experienced players. That same year, he also competed in the Asia Youth Chess Championship – U8 Open, showcasing his skill on the broader Asian stage.
National Achievements in New Zealand
Sai has consistently performed well in domestic tournaments across New Zealand. He emerged 1st in the Kings Division of the Sarapu Cup—one of the country’s major youth competitions—two years in a row (2020 and 2021). In 2023, he topped the Under-1450 Category at the Auckland ANZAC Weekender, and in 2022, he won the U-rated Category at the Auckland Teams Arena. More recently, he placed 3rd in the Summit Cup Open Division in February 2025, holding his own against older and higher-rated opponents.
Club and State-Level Success (India and New Zealand)
Sai’s chess journey extends beyond New Zealand. During visits to India, he has continued to compete—and win—at state and club-level tournaments. In 2023, he secured 1st place in the NAMMA Sub Junior Karnataka U11 Rapid Chess Tournament, as well as the 49th BRDCA Open U11 Category. In 2024, he continued his winning streak by clinching 1st in the 51st BRDCA Open U12 Category.
Back in New Zealand, he placed 2nd in the Auckland Northshore Rapid Championship (3rd leg) in September 2024.
The Road Ahead
