ISSO Chess Games 2026: Over 400 Students from 102 Schools Compete in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
More than 400 young chess players from 102 Indian schools competed at the ISSO Chess Games in Ahmedabad, with Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa on the sidelines to inspire the next generation. As India's chess profile climbs globally, events like this are becoming the critical grassroots pipeline — and the diverse mix of school geographies here suggests that talent is spreading well beyond traditional metros.
Key Takeaways
The ISSO Chess Games 2026 concluded at Adani International School, Ahmedabad on 13 September 2026 .
More than 400 players from 102 international schools across India participated across 8 categories .
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi attended the opening day.
Gold medals were awarded in U-11, U-14, U-17, and U-19 categories for both boys and girls.
The event was supported by the Adani Group as part of ISSO's school sports development mission.
The ISSO Chess Games concluded at Adani International School, Ahmedabad, on 13 September 2026, after two days of intense competition featuring more than 400 young chess players from 102 international schools across India. The tournament, backed by the Adani Group, is part of ISSO's broader mission to create structured competitive platforms for school-level athletes.
Tournament Format and Categories
The Games were organised across eight categories — Under-11, Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 — for both boys and girls. Players from schools nationwide competed, gaining hands-on experience in high-pressure competitive chess. Organisers noted that the format was designed to build strategic thinking, concentration, decision-making, and resilience among young players.
Star Presence and Official Support
The opening day drew two prominent figures to the venue. Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa attended the event, engaging directly with young participants and offering encouragement as the competition got underway. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also addressed the gathering, stressing the importance of early talent identification and providing credible platforms for budding athletes to grow.
Gold Medallists Across All Categories
At the close of the Games, the following students were awarded gold medals in their respective categories:
Viaansh Bhatnagar (Witty International School, Udaipur) — U-11 Boys; Teesha Byadwal (Jayshree Periwal Global School) — U-11 Girls; Nirvaan Nirav Shah (Don Bosco International School) — U-14 Boys; Sai Nitisha K (Tatva School) — U-14 Girls; Shahan Vohra (Heritage International Xperimental School) — U-17 Boys; Khandelwal Ananya (JBCN International School, Parel) — U-17 Girls; Ranvir Kanwar (Step By Step School) — U-19 Boys; and Jhalak Byadwal (Jayshree Periwal Global School) — U-19 Girls.
What Organisers Said
Gaurav Dixit, Co-Director of ISSO, said: 'The Games brought together a strong and competitive field of young chess players, and it was encouraging to see the quality of participation across all categories. Competing against players from different schools and regions is an important part of a young player's development, giving them valuable exposure and helping them learn from every game. We are pleased with the way the tournament has concluded and hope the students carry this experience forward as they continue to pursue chess with the same enthusiasm.'
Why School-Level Chess Competitions Matter
India's recent rise as a global chess powerhouse — anchored by players like Praggnanandhaa and World Champion D Gukesh — has sharpened interest in identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots level. Events like the ISSO Chess Games serve as early proving grounds, giving students from non-metro schools the same competitive exposure typically reserved for academy-level players. This is the kind of pipeline investment that national federations and corporate sponsors are increasingly prioritising.
With the tournament now concluded, participating students will look to carry the momentum into state and national-level competitions in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the pipeline question — how consistently are strong players emerging from non-elite, non-metro schools? — rarely gets asked. The geographic spread of gold medallists here, drawn from Udaipur, Parel, and smaller institutions, is a quiet signal that the talent base is widening. Corporate-backed school tournaments are filling a structural gap that AICF and state associations have historically underfunded. The real metric to track over the next decade is how many ISSO alumni appear in national-level rankings.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ISSO Chess Games?
The ISSO Chess Games are a school-level chess tournament organised by the Inter School Sports Organisation (ISSO), bringing together students from international schools across India to compete in structured age-category events. The 2026 edition was held at Adani International School, Ahmedabad, on 12–13 September.
How many students participated in the ISSO Chess Games 2026?
More than 400 young chess players from 102 international schools across India competed in the 2026 edition. The tournament was structured across eight categories — Under-11, Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 for both boys and girls.
Who attended the ISSO Chess Games as a guest?
Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa attended the opening day and engaged directly with young participants. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of early talent identification for young athletes.
Who won gold medals at the ISSO Chess Games 2026?
The eight gold medallists were Viaansh Bhatnagar (U-11 Boys), Teesha Byadwal (U-11 Girls), Nirvaan Nirav Shah (U-14 Boys), Sai Nitisha K (U-14 Girls), Shahan Vohra (U-17 Boys), Khandelwal Ananya (U-17 Girls), Ranvir Kanwar (U-19 Boys), and Jhalak Byadwal (U-19 Girls).
Who supported the ISSO Chess Games 2026?
The event was supported by the Adani Group, which is described as a dedicated backer of ISSO's mission to provide structured sporting opportunities for school students across India.
