Organised by All Odisha Chess Association,
In Association with KIIT University
| Venue | Viswanathan Anand International Chess Hall, Campus 10, KIIT University, Patia, Bhubaneswar |
| Event Code | 487135/OD(S)/2026 |
| Date | 25 to 29 July 2026 |
| Rounds / Time Control | 9 / 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move no.1 (90’+30″) |
| Free | Free for all GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, WFM & above 2250 players. |
| Entry Fee | ₹ 990/– (Rupees Nine hundred Ninety only.) |
| AICF Registration | https://prs.aicf.in/ |
| Registration link | https://tinyurl.com/mfp3n8bk |
| Total Prize Fund | ₹ 1,20,000/– (Rupees One Lakh twenty thousand only.) |
| Last date of Entry | 24th July 2026 |
| Late fee | ₹200/- will be charged till 24th July 2026 (₹1190/-) |
State Qualifier: The top four (4) players will be selected to represent Odisha State in the forthcoming 63rd National Senior Chess Championship 2026(Open) will be held from 28-Dec-2026 to 07-Jan-2027 at Varanasi, UP.
Congratulations!
| Rank | Name | Rating | District | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fakir Majhi | 1923 | Rayagada | 8 / 9 |
| 2 | Siddhesh Kamila | 1805 | Balasore | 7 / 9 |
| 3 | Ayushman Mohanty | 1991 | Puri | 7 / 9 |
| 4 | Swapnil Priyadarshi | 1916 | Khordha | 7 / 9 |
Fakir Majhi Shines at the 66th State Senior Chess Championship
Bhubaneswar witnessed an inspiring celebration of strategy, skill, and determination as the 66th State Senior Rated Chess Championship concluded at the KIIT Viswanathan Anand International Chess Hall. Organized by the All Odisha Chess Association, the prestigious event brought together some of Odisha’s finest chess talent for five days of intense competition.
A Proud Moment for Odisha Chess
The spotlight belonged to Fakir Majhi, a third-year B.Tech Civil Engineering student of KISS, who emerged as champion after scoring an impressive 8 points from 9 rounds. His victory continued KISS’s remarkable run in the championship, following Tapan Badamundi’s title win last year. Supported by KIIT, KISS, and the State Sports and Youth Services Department, this year’s nine-round championship once again highlighted the growing strength of chess in Odisha.
Recognizing Talent Across the Board
Alongside Fakir Majhi, several young and experienced players delivered strong performances. Siddhesh Kamila of Balasore, Ayushman Mohanty of Puri, and Swapnil Priyadarshi of Khordha secured second to fourth places respectively, each scoring 7 points, and earned the opportunity to represent Odisha in the upcoming National Senior Chess Championship. Other top performers included Ashirbad Swain, Tapan Badamundi, Om Aditya Khadanga, Ayush Pattnaik, Jagadish Barik, Satyam Mishra, S. P. Indrajit, Rajendra Kumar Sahoo, Advik Aditya Swain, Adarsh Kumar Bariha, and Lavya Jyoti Routray.
A Memorable Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony, chaired by All Odisha Chess Association president Satyaranjan Pattnaik, added a ceremonial finish to the tournament. Mr. Rajib Sekhar Sahu, chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and a noted chartered accountant from eastern India, attended as chief guest and presented the major awards. A total prize fund of ₹1,20,000 was distributed among 56 players, with additional personal awards announced by CA Rajib Sekhar Sahu for the top three finishers and the youngest participant, four-year-old Sri Kumar Patri. Guests of honour Suresh Swain, vice-president of the All India Sports Journalists Association and senior sports journalist of Sambad, and Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director General of Sports at KIIT and KISS, encouraged the players and presented prizes. The guests and participants also expressed their gratitude to Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS, for providing an international-standard chess venue for the championship.
The successful conduct of the event was ensured under the leadership of Chief Arbiter IA Nihar Ranjan Samal and IA Pinki Mohapatra, supported by National Senior Arbiters Aniket Dhani, Bikram Biswal, Manas Ranjan Pattnaik, Gourahari Mohapatra, and Bismita Swain. Their efforts helped make the championship a well-organized platform for Odisha’s chess community.
The championship also celebrated excellence across different categories. Arpan Sahoo topped the unrated section, Satya Sundar Nayak led the above-60 category, Snehayukta Behera was recognized as the best woman player, and Nemai Das topped the differently abled category. The youth categories showcased Odisha’s promising future, with Khetrabar Majhi, Binit Nayak, Satya Swaroop Tripathy, Snehasmita Ram, and Paramarth Singh leading their respective age groups.
Accommodation
Accommodation is free for all out stationed participants. Subject to prior information (through Registration) before 05:00 PM on 20th July 2026.
Contact: Satya Prakash Rout – 98611 51303
Registration & Technical
- IA Nihar Ranjan Sasmal – 82496 17893
- Pradeep Mohanty, EC, AOCA – 99370 53637
Tournament Committee
- Dr. Gaganendu Dash, (Chairman)
- Sankar Prasad Mishra, Vice President, AOCA – 86586 32226
- Bidhu Bhusan Mishra, Treasurer, AOCA – 94371 10548
- Padmini Singh, EC, AOCA- 90908 08818
- Subhasis Pattnaik- 98613 91258
- Bikram Keshari Biswal- 98610 09674
- Lalat Keshari Samal- 93373 95004
- Gourahari Mohapatra – 73779 95583
for Emergency Contact
- Satya Ranjan Pattnaik (President, AOCA) – 94372 08506
- Bhabesh Mohanty (Jt. Secretary, AOCA) – 82490 73810
