- Kaustav Kundu from West Bengal emerged as the winner, Yashad Bambeshwar from Chhattisgarh came second and Kedar Omkar from Maharashtra came third.
- 164 athletes from 12 states participated, displaying their strength across age groups and categories.
- Chess teaches patience, concentration and discipline: MLA Smt. Raimuni Bhagat
The “Checkmate at Jashpur – All India Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament 2026,” held for the first time in Jashpur, concluded successfully. Kaustav Kundu of West Bengal delivered a stellar performance and won the overall title. Yashad Bambeshwar of Chhattisgarh took second place, while Kedar Omkar of Maharashtra took third place.
Held at the Purani Toli Community Hall from August 29th to September 1st, this four-day competition featured 164 athletes from 12 states. The athletes showcased their strategic abilities, concentration, and excellent athletic skills, making the competition thrilling.
At the closing ceremony, Chief Guest MLA Mrs. Raimuni Bhagat and other guests honored the winners and runners-up in various age groups and categories by presenting them with trophies and prize checks. The competition was organized under the joint auspices of the District Administration, Sports Department, and Jashpur District Chess Association.
- Chess teaches restraint and discipline in life: MLA Smt. Raimuni Bhagat
MLA Mrs. Raimuni Bhagat congratulated the district administration, sports department, and chess association for the successful organization of the competition. Wishing all the players a bright future, she said that chess is not merely a game of entertainment, but an effective means of developing patience, concentration, discipline, and intelligence. She said that a person who values time while facing life’s difficult situations with intelligence, discipline, and restraint moves forward toward success. The game of chess also teaches us this important lesson.
- Players won awards in different age groups and categories.
Players excelled in various categories. Jawaharlal Gupta was the winner in the senior citizen category, while Sengupta Dipankar was the runner-up.
In the Surguja Division women’s category, Sinha Kashish took first place and Shweta Rani took second place. In the Surguja Division men’s category, Rudraksh Singh was the winner and Yashwant Singh was the runner-up.
In the Jashpur women’s category, Hemlata Prajapati took first place and Premlata Sahu took second place. In the Jashpur men’s category, Elan Lakra took first place and Shyam Singh took second place.
In the women’s category over 30, Aarti Pawale was first, and Lakshmi Shukla was second. In the under-15 category, Ishaan Saini was first, and Garv Kerketta was second. In the under-13 category, Shilp Kumar Ghodeshwar took first place, and Virat Yadav took second place.
In the Under-11 category, V. Virat Iyer finished first and Kushagra Dixit second. In the Under-9 category, Advik Bhushan finished first and Hridaan Mavalankar second.
In various categories of women players, Prachi Yadav stood first in F-15$ category and Bhagat Komal stood second. Abhishree Vats secured first position in F-15 category. Naina Bhagat stood first in F-13 category. Savi Gauri stood first in F-11 category and Anika Reddy Goluguri stood second. Parikshita Dubey stood first in F-09 category and Shrinika Reddy Goluguri stood second.
The successful organization of this All-India competition has given chess a new identity in Jashpur. The competition has played a significant role in strengthening the sports culture in the district, providing local players with the opportunity to compete with talented athletes from across the country.
On this occasion, Municipal Council President Mr. Arvind Bhagat, District Panchayat President Mr. Ganga Ram Bhagat, Collector Mr. Rohit Vyas along with players, chess lovers and a large number of spectators were present.