A recap of the Big Chess Inter-School Tournament 2026
The third edition of The Big Chess Inter-School Tournament was held on 4th and 5th July 2026 at Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Mumbai. A total of 165 players from schools across the city competed across six age categories. The top finishers were awarded trophies and medals, while the top two in each category qualified for the National Schools Chess Championships. The event concluded with a simul by FM Vedant Panesar for the top performers. Photos: Hardik Jain
165 players participate in the third edition
After two editions, The Big Chess Inter-School Tournament returned for the third year at the Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Mumbai. The tournament has steadily grown in scale and ambition since it began in 2024. 165 players took part this year, competing in six age categories - Under-6, Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, and Under-16.
It was a Rapid tournament consisting of 8 rounds, with a time control of 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment. Here are the top finishers in each category:
U-6 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Ayansh Singh | 1 | 7/7 |
Aarav | 2 | 6/7 |
Aadya Gaurav Shetty | 3 | 5/7 |
U-8 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Adiraj Chavan | 1 | 6.5/8 |
Prabhav Rohithkumar | 2 | 6.5/8 |
Lavanya Singh | 3 | 6/8 |
U-10 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Girisha Prasanna Pai | 1 | 8/8 |
Aditya Choudhury | 2 | 6/8 |
Pai Avyay Minar | 3 | 6/8 |
U-12 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Lakshya Agrawal | 1 | 7/8 |
Amber Gangwal | 2 | 6.5/8 |
Ahaan Kataruka | 3 | 6/8 |
U-14 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Maniar Hriday | 1 | 7/8 |
Prabhu Arjun | 2 | 6/8 |
Pasbola Samvid | 3 | 6/8 |
U-16 Category
Name | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
Rudra Kandpal | 1 | 7/8 |
Aditya Kumar (Anay) | 2 | 5.5/8 |
Yuvraj Avadhesh Pratap Singh | 3 | 5.5/8 |
The top three finishers in each category were awarded trophies, while those finishing 4th to 10th received medals. The top two finishers in every category also earned a spot in the National Schools Chess Championships.
Simul with FM Vedant Panesar
As has become a tradition at this event, the top two finishers from each of the six categories earned the chance to test themselves against a titled player in a simul. This year, the guest for the simul was FM Vedant Panesar.
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