Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 21: The Andaman Nicobar Chess Mahasangram, the first-ever FIDE Rapid Rating Open Chess Tournament in the islands, concluded on a high note at Netaji Stadium yesterday evening, with a vibrant and well-attended closing ceremony that celebrated two days of intense competition and united chess enthusiasts from across the Union Territory.
The tournament was inaugurated on April 19, 2025, by Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, who made the ceremonial first move against Olake, a chess player from the Great Andamanese tribe a beautiful moment-symbolizing unity, diversity, and the growing spirit of chess across the islands.
After two intense days and nine thrilling rounds that witnessed a fierce battle of minds among over 600 players, the atmosphere at the open ground under floodlights was filled with pride and applause as the winners were felicitated with trophies for their outstanding performances.
The winners are:
Top ten positions (Main Category)
| Rank | Name | Rating | Points |
| 1 | Satish P S | 1650 | 9 |
| 2 | Jaivardhan Rao K | 1426 | 8½ |
| 3 | Virat J S | 1590 | 8 |
| 4 | Chirag Kumar A | 1502 | 8 |
| 5 | Shrestha Vijay D | 1567 | 8 |
| 6 | Yuvan Singh | 1483 | 8 |
| 7 | Yashwant V | 1614 | 7½ |
| 8 | Rohan Singh | 1537 | 7½ |
| 9 | Sathiya Moorthy T | 1529 | 7½ |
| 10 | Anil R | 1592 | 7½ |
In addition to the Open category, winners across various age-group categories were also honoured for their remarkable efforts. Players from categories such as Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 were awarded trophies celebrating the incredible diversity and talent present at the tournament.
V Bhasker, an International Arbiter from Chennai, served as the Chief Arbiter for the Andaman Nicobar Chess Mahasangram, ensuring the successful conduct of the tournament throughout the nine rounds.
The tournament, which saw over 600 players, has set a new benchmark in the islands’ sporting landscape. The success of the Chess Mahasangram not only marked a historic milestone but also paved the way for a vibrant chess culture to thrive in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
