Organised by Sundargarh District Chess Association
| Venue | Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Birsa Munda Chowk, Rourkela, Odisha 769001 |
| Event Code | 492372/OD(S)/2026 | 492374/OD(S)/2026 |
| Rounds / Time Control | 8 / 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move no.1 (90’+30″) |
| Entry Fee | ₹ 700/– (Rupees Seven hundred only.) |
| AICF Registration | https://prs.aicf.in/ |
| Registration link | https://forms.gle/LuoxZFyRocPTZLdn9 |
| Last date of Entry | 05:00 P.M. on 18th August 2026 |
| Late fee | ₹100/- will be charged till 05:00 P.M. on 19th August 2026 |
Congratulations!
| Category | Rank | Name | District | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIRLS | 1 | Pratyasha Jena | Cuttack | 7/8 |
| GIRLS | 2 | Nainika Sahoo | Khordha | 6.5/8 |
| OPEN | 1 | Shrihan Sabat | Ganjam | 7/8 |
| OPEN | 2 | Lalit Ranjan Sahu | Cuttack | 7/8 |
The top two (2) players from each category will be selected to represent Odisha State in the forthcoming National (U-17) OPEN & GIRLS Chess Championships will be held from 28th Sep to 06th October 2026 at Kangra Fort, Barnai, Jammu & Kashmir.
The Odisha State Under-17 Open & Girls FIDE Rated Chess Championships 2026 were formally
inaugurated at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Rourkela, in the presence of distinguished guests,
organisers, officials, and young chess players from across the state.
The championship was inaugurated by Chief Guest Sj. Sarada Prasad Nayak, MLA, Rourkela. The
ceremony was also graced by Sj. Pratap Kumar Swain, Ex-CGM, RSP and Chairman of the
Organising Committee; Grand Master Swayams Mishra; Sj. G.C. Mohapatra, Ex-President, All
Odisha Chess Association; Sj. Bhabesh Mohanty, Joint Secretary and Secretary-in-Charge, AOCA;
Sj. Sarat Kumar Das, President, Sundargarh District Chess Association; IA Suresh Chandra Sahoo,
Chief Arbiter; and FA Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Deputy Chief Arbiter.
A total of 139 participants from 12 districts are taking part in the four-day FIDE-rated event, including
103 players in the Open category and 45 players in the Girls category. The Open section has 31
rated players, while the Girls section includes 11 rated players. Both championships are being
conducted over eight rounds under the Swiss league system, with a time control of 90 minutes plus a
30-second increment from move one. The total prize fund for the event is ₹30,000/-.
Senior journalist Sj Kunja Behari Rout and Sj Sisir Mohanty visited the venue during the fourth round
and encouraged the participants. The championship continues to provide an important platform for
Odisha’s promising under-17 players, with the top performers aiming for selection to represent the state
at the forthcoming National Under-17 Open and Girls Chess Championships.
In the Girls Category, the final round concluded with Pratyasha Jena of Cuttack emerging as champion
with 7 points from 6 wins and 2 draws. She clinched the Championship Trophy along with a cash prize
of ₹ 3,500/-. Fourth seed and Under-13 Girls State Champion Nainika Sahoo of Khordha secured second place with 6½ points from 5 wins and 3 draws, earning the Runner-up Trophy and a cash prize of ₹ 2,500/-. Snehayukta Behera of Ganjam finished third with 6 points bagged ₹ 1,500/- and received a trophy. The final round saw only one draw among the top seven boards, highlighting a decisive finish to the category.
In the Open Category, top seed Shrihan Sabat and second seed Lalit Ranjan Sahu finished level on 7
points, with the tie-break deciding the final standings. Shrihan Sabat emerged as the champion, winning
the Championship Trophy along with a cash prize of ₹ 3,500/-, while Lalit Ranjan Sahu secured the runner-up position and received a cash prize of ₹ 2,500/- along with the Runner-up Trophy. Satya Swarup Tripathy and Mohapatra Ayush Aryan followed closely on 6½ points each, with another tie break determining third place. Satya Swarup Tripathy claimed the third-place trophy and a cash prize of ₹1,500/-. The final rankings reflected a highly competitive finish, particularly among the top four
players. Sundargarh had the strongest representation among the top ten, while Ganjam produced the
champion. The event also highlighted impressive youth participation, with several U11 and U13 players
featuring among the leading ranks.
The championship concluded with a valedictory ceremony and prize distribution at 6:30 P.M. on 23rd August 2026. The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest, Sj. SK Parichha, Ex CGM, RSP; and the Guest of Honour, Sj GC Mohapatra, Ex President, AOCA.; Sj Bhabesh Mohanty, Secretary-in-charge, AOCA; Sj. Sarat Kumar Das, President, Sundargarh District Chess Association; Sj. Subasis Patnaik, Secretary, Khordha District Chess Association; Their inspiring speeches motivated the gathering, and they presented prizes to the winners. The organizers also expressed their sincere appreciation for the enthusiastic support extended by the parents and guardians of the young participants.
The championships were conducted by Chief Arbiter was IA Suresh Chandra Sahoo ably assisted by
Deputy Chief Arbiter, FA Prakash Kumar Sahoo; SNA Satyajit Barick; SNA Swarupamayee Das, SNA
Chandra Sekhar Panda, SNA Jogabanti Behera, SNA Bishnupriya Samal. Three person got their FA norm by showing their excellent skill.
Contacts
Registration
FA Prakash Kumar Sahoo, 90906-76166
IA Suresh Chandra Sahoo, 93370-33001, 97761-18644
Mr. Narendra Patel, Treasurer, SDCA, 97763-81547
Accommodation
Mr. Pravat Kumar Das, 88478-42956
Mr. Chandra Sekhar Panda, 77357-59506
Organising Committee
Mr. Pratap Kumar Swain, Chairman, (Ex CGM RSP)
Mr. G.C. Mohapatra, 94370-45464
Mr. Susant Kumar Behera, 93489-07129
Mr. Suresh Kumar Patel, Secretary, SDCA, 99371-84059
If required…
Mr. Bhabesh Mohanty, 99378-86372, Jt. Secretary, AOCA
Mr. Sarat Kumar Das, 94381-41131, President, Sundargarh Dist. Chess Assn.
