Maharashtra State Schools Chess 2026: Veer Shah, Hriday Maniar win with perfect scores
Synopsis
Two players dominated the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 with rare perfection: Veer Dhaval Shah (Under-9 Open) and AIM Hriday Maniar (Under-17 Open) each won all seven rounds at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Mumbai. The 387-player, six-category FIDE-rated event doubles as a selection tournament — the top two from each category now head to Ahmedabad in December to represent Maharashtra at the national championship.
Key Takeaways
Veer Dhaval Shah of Jamnabai Narsee School won the Under-9 Open with a perfect score of 7/7 .
AIM Hriday Maniar (top seed, rated 1910 ) swept the Under-17 Open with 7/7 , finishing 1.5 points ahead of the field.
Lavanya Singh , Vihaan Anupam Agrawal , Tisyaa Apurva Patt , and Drishya Naik won the remaining four categories.
The three-day event at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar (West) featured 387 players across six FIDE-rated categories .
Total prize fund was ₹60,000 , with ₹10,000 per category; trophies sponsored by SBI Life .
The tournament served as a selection event — top two per category will represent Maharashtra at the National Schools Chess Championship in Ahmedabad from 16–20 December 2026 .
The Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 concluded on Sunday, 15 November 2026, at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar (West), Mumbai, with Veer Dhaval Shah and AIM Hriday Maniar producing the most dominant performances of the three-day tournament — each winning all seven games in their respective categories.
Tournament Overview
Organised by Indian Chess School, the championship drew 387 players competing across six FIDE-rated categories spanning the Under-9, Under-13, and Under-17 Open and Girls sections. A total cash prize fund of ₹60,000 was distributed across the six categories, with ₹10,000 allocated per category. The top three finishers in each section received SBI Life trophies, while players finishing fourth to tenth also received recognition.
Key Champions and Results
Veer Dhaval Shah (rated 1501) of Jamnabai Narsee School, JVPD, swept the Under-9 Open category with a perfect score of seven points from seven rounds. Ivaan Dubey (1545), a prior winner of the Under-7 Open title in the first stage, finished second with six points, while Aarav Ravi Jhavar (1571), also of Jamnabai Narsee School, took third place with six points.
The Under-9 Girls section produced an exciting three-way finish. Lavanya Singh (1448) of Sanjivani International School claimed the title on superior tie-break with six points, ahead of Ishi Singh (1538) of J. B. Petit High School for Girls in second and Nikita Sandeep (1411) in third, both also on six points.
In the Under-13 Open, Vihaan Anupam Agrawal (1858) of Narayana Olympiad School edged out top seed Nirvaan Nirav Shah (1956) of Don Bosco International School on tie-break, both finishing on six points from seven rounds. The Under-13 Girls title went to Tisyaa Apurva Patt (1524) of Avalon Heights International School with six points, ahead of Pranitha Bhava (1655) of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya on 5.5 points.
Top seed AIM Hriday Maniar (1910) delivered the most commanding performance of the tournament in the Under-17 Open, maintaining an unbeaten run throughout to claim the title with a perfect seven points from seven rounds. Shaurya Ashish Modi (1626) and Soham Sudarshan Sahamate (1667) finished second and third respectively, each on 5.5 points.
In the Under-17 Girls section, top seed Drishya Naik (1713) won convincingly with 6.5 points, finishing a full 1.5 points clear of her nearest challengers.
Road to Nationals
The championship doubled as a selection event for the National Schools Chess Championship, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad from 16 to 20 December 2026. The top two finishers in each of the six categories have secured spots to represent Maharashtra at the national level.
Significance for Indian School Chess
This edition of the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship is notable for its scale — 387 participants across FIDE-rated categories signals growing grassroots participation in competitive chess across the state. With India's chess profile rising sharply on the global stage in recent years, state-level school tournaments like this serve as an important feeder pipeline for national and international talent. The Ahmedabad nationals in December will now be the next proving ground for Maharashtra's brightest young players.
Point of View
Yet he finished with a perfect score, suggesting ratings at school level can mask true playing strength. Vihaan Agrawal's tie-break win over higher-rated Nirvaan Shah in the Under-13 Open tells a similar story. The Ahmedabad nationals will be the real test of whether Maharashtra's selection formula — rewarding consistency over rating — produces results on a bigger stage.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026?
Six champions were crowned across FIDE-rated categories. The standout performers were Veer Dhaval Shah (Under-9 Open) and AIM Hriday Maniar (Under-17 Open), both of whom won all seven games. Lavanya Singh, Vihaan Anupam Agrawal, Tisyaa Apurva Patt, and Drishya Naik won the remaining four categories.
Where and when was the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 held?
The three-day championship was held at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar (West), Mumbai, concluding on Sunday, 15 November 2026. It was organised by Indian Chess School.
How many players participated in the 2026 championship?
A total of 387 players competed across six FIDE-rated categories covering the Under-9, Under-13, and Under-17 Open and Girls sections. A prize fund of ₹60,000 was distributed, with ₹10,000 allocated per category.
What is the prize for winning the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship?
The top three finishers in each of the six categories received SBI Life trophies, and cash prizes from a total pool of ₹60,000 — ₹10,000 per category — were awarded. Players finishing fourth to tenth also received recognition.
Will Maharashtra's chess champions compete at the national level?
Yes. The championship served as the selection tournament for the National Schools Chess Championship, to be held in Ahmedabad from 16 to 20 December 2026. The top two finishers in each of the six categories have qualified to represent Maharashtra at the national event.
