Organised by Khordha District Chess Association
| Venue | PRO-CHESS-TA, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
| Date | 5 – 7 May 2026 |
| Rounds/ Time Control | 8 Rounds, 60′ + 30″ |
| Register link | https://forms.gle/i8tnYa6wdW8ijGnU7 |
| Entry Fee | ₹ 600/- (Non Refundable) |
| Total Prize Fund | ₹ 10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only.) for each Category (OPEN & Girls) |
| National Selection from Odisha | OPEN: 2 GIRLS: 2 |
Congratulations!
| Category | Rank | Name | District | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIRLS | 1 | Elena Mishra | Khordha | 7.0/7.0 |
| GIRLS | 2 | Aadhisree Budek | Khordha | 5.5/7.0 |
| BOYS | 1 | Reyansh Raj | Khordha | 7.0/7.0 |
| BOYS | 2 | Parmarth Singh | Angul | 6.0/6.0 |
Top 2 players from both the categories have been selected to represent Odisha in forthcoming National Under 7, which will be held at Maharashtra from 7-11 June 2026 (National circular not yet published).
The 1st Dr. Debendra Pradhan Memorial Odisha State Under-7 Open & Girls Chess Championship 2026 commenced today with a small yet glittering inaugural ceremony at PRO-CHESS-TA.
The championships are being held from 5th May to 7th May 2026, bringing together the brightest young chess talents across Odisha. The event was inaugurated by Shri Simanchal Khatei, General Secretary, BJP Odisha, in the presence of Shri Durga Samantray, Editor, Duradradarshi, Shri Bhabesh Mohanty, Joint Secretary, All Orissa Chess Association (AOCA), Shri Subhasis Patnaik, Secretary of KDCA, along with Shri Lalat Keshari Samal, Convener of the Championship, and other dignitaries.
A total of 75 participants in the Under-7 Open and Girls categories are competing, making it one of the most vibrant and competitive grassroots chess events in the state.
Adding prestige to the championship, the top two players from each category will qualify to represent Odisha at the National Under-7 Chess Championship, scheduled to be held in Maharashtra from June 7 to 11, 2026.
Organized in memory of Late Dr. Debendra Pradhan, the tournament aims to honor his legacy while fostering young talent and promoting chess at the grassroots level. The initiative reflects the strong commitment of the All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) towards nurturing future champions and strengthening the chess ecosystem in the state.
Total 7 rounds will be played for both BOYS & GIRLS category separately with a classical 60 minutes with 30 second increment from move no.1.
In the boys category Reyansh Raj of Khordha emerged champion with seven points out of seven rounds, displaying remarkable consistency and confidence throughout the tournament. Parmarth Singh of Angul finished runner-up with six points.
In the girls category, four-year-old Elena Mishra (daughter of Grandmaster Swayams Mishra delivered a dominant performance to clinch the title with a perfect score of seven points, remaining unbeaten throughout the event. Aadhisree Budek of Khordha secured second place with 5.5 points.
The prize distribution ceremony was graced by Odisha Olympic Association president Samir Mohanty as chief guest. Others present on the occasion include, Satya Ranjan Pattnaik, President, AOCA, Bhabesh Mohanty, Joint-secretary, Grand Master Swayams Mishra, KDCA secretary Subhasis Patnaik, joint-secretary Saroj Kishore Behera and treasurer Pradipta Behera.
The Chief Arbiter of the event was IA Santosh Kumar Mohapatra able assisted by IA Pinky Mohapatra.
Contacts:
- Swayangsu Satyakam, 99370-07945
- Dr Susanta Sarangi, 99371-37680
- Dr Chandra Sekhar Mishra, 99370-95591
- Deepak Patra, 97780-01474
- Rajendra Kumar Sahu, 94371-78895
- Subhabrata Mitra, 99382-22251
- Lalat Keshari Samal, Co-Ordinator, 93373-95004
