A Quick Recap of The Big Chess Inter-School Tournament 2025

When the FOMO got too real

My recent trip to Mumbai has been phenomenal. Last time, I went to Mumbai for The Big Chess Diwali Camp 2024, and this time I was back for the Summer Camp, which was held from 9th to 14th May. My previous camp experience was amazing, so naturally, my expectations were sky-high for this one as well. The place where these camps are held, the Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club, has a great atmosphere. It’s an open space where you would see people wandering around for shopping, and midst of it, there is a huge chess setup.

Unfortunately, I had to skip the last two days of the camp as I fell sick. And let me tell you, the FOMO was real! So to make up for it, I decided to extend my stay in Mumbai because just two days later, the same venue was going to host the second edition of The Big Inter-School Tournament from 16th to 18th May.

This was the first time I was going to be a part of organizing a tournament. And as the name promised, it was a ‘Big’ tournament. We received 306 participants from various schools across the city. I was genuinely excited to see what goes on behind the scenes. As a player, you arrive, you focus, you play your rounds; but being on the other side of the board, so to speak, showed me a whole new world.

The first round was supposed to start at 11:30 AM, but parents and players started pouring in much earlier. The excitement and pressure were at their peak. Managing such a large crowd, along with the setup, was a huge challenge. But then I saw the magic of teamwork. All the volunteers dispersed themselves to handle the chaos. Some guided players to their boards, some resolved their doubts, and some even calmed the nervous parents! Things really do feel different when you are on the organising end and not on the playing side of the table.

While the games were in full swing inside the playing arena, the parents’ waiting area was filled with different energy. Some parents were sitting patiently, some were chatting, and others were staring at the games from a distance. They were all curious to know how their child was doing. Though it was difficult to handle so many anxious parents at once, their love and support were quite admirable!

Here is a glimpse into the different sections of the tournament:

The three days of the tournament were amazing! Some games ended in five minutes, while some went down to the final seconds of the clock. There were many exciting games, but more than that, it was the reactions of players and parents that were heartwarming. The way they shared smiles after hard-fought wins and the way parents consoled their child after a loss was worth watching. One common but adorable moment I remember was how the players would eagerly run to find their boards before the game, and later, rush back to collect their water bottles once it ended. For many, it was their first tournament. I am sure they must have walked away with some stories and lessons.

Here are the top finishers of the tournament:

Under-6

Chess Results

Under-8

Chess Results

Under-10

Chess Results

Under-12

Chess Results

Under-14

Chess Results

Open

Chess Results

Some walked away with trophies, but everyone walked away with stories!

Check out the video below for exciting highlights from the Inter-School Tournament: