Organised by S.R. Chess Centre & SB1 Group of Companies

Congratulations!

RAPID

BLITZ

The Odisha State Rapid and Blitz FIDE Rating Chess Championships 2026 brought two days of intense competition, emerging talent, and record participation to Mother’s Public School, Pahal, Bhubaneswar. Organised by S.R. Chess Centre and SB1 Group of Companies in collaboration with the All Odisha Chess Association, the prestigious state-level event marked a memorable milestone for Odisha chess.

Champions Who Stood Out

Rising star Lalit Ranjan Sahu of Cuttack emerged champion in the Rapid category, while Aryan Behera of Jajpur claimed the Blitz title. In Rapid, Lalit was followed by Bhubaneswar’s CM Rajendra Sahu in second place and Cuttack’s talented girl player Pratysha Jena in third. All three finished with unbeaten performances of seven wins and two draws, with their final rankings decided through the Buchholz tie-break system.

In the Blitz category, champion Aryan Behera was closely followed by Bishal Patnaik of Dhenkanal in second place and World Chess medalist CM Swattik Swain in third. Each of the top three players finished with eight points, making the contest one of the most exciting highlights of the championship.

Record Participation and Prize Pool

With a total prize fund of ₹ 1,20,000 and more than 60 attractive trophies, the championship drew an exceptional response from players across the state. More than 600 participants took part, including 340 players in Rapid and 275 in Blitz, making it one of the largest Odisha State selection competitions to date.

Opening Move and Ceremony Highlights

The first round on the opening day was inaugurated with the ceremonial first move by Biju Pattanayak Award-winning sports journalist Bimal Roul of Pramey, setting the tone for a spirited and competitive tournament.

The prize distribution ceremony was graced by State Chess Association President Satya Ranjan Patnaik, Joint Secretary Bhabesh Mohanty, S.R. Chess Centre President Subhasish Patnaik, and Chief Guest Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, Odisha Government Minister for Law, Works and Excise. BJP State Executive Member Shri Jagannath Pradhan and SRB & Associates Partner CA Shri Rajiv Shekhar Sahu also attended the ceremony.

Among the other dignitaries present were SB1 Group of Companies Chairperson Ms. Baijayanti Sahu, Mother’s Group of Schools Chairperson Ms. Polly Patnaik, Director Mr. Srijit Patnaik, Managing Director Ms. Minati Sawat, Principal Ms. Chitra Ajay, Co-Founder Mr. Nabaranjan Patnaik, and Managing Director Ms. Pandyaparna Patnaik.

A Boost for Odisha Chess

The success of the Odisha State Rapid and Blitz FIDE Rating Chess Championships 2026 reflects the growing popularity of chess across the state. With strong institutional support, record participation, and outstanding performances from young and experienced players alike, the event has created fresh momentum for Odisha’s competitive chess scene.

Registration & Technical

1. IA Nihar Ranjan Sasmal (Chief Arbiter) – 82496 17893
2. SNA Aniket Dani – 82499 32410

for Other Queries

1. Biswajit Nayak, M.P School, Tournament Coordinator – 98613 68123
2. Pravat Kumar Panda, G.M (S.R.B.C) – 98361 10163
3. Jagamohan Dash, Transport – 94388 22972

Emergency, Please Contact

1. Subhasis Patnaik (President, SR Chess Centre)- 98613 91258
2. Bhabesh Mohanty (Joint Secretary, A.O.C.A) – 99378 86372
3. Satya Ranjan Pattnaik (President, A.O.C.A) – 94372 08506