JAMMU, OCT 4: Jharkhand’s Adhiraj Mitra produced a brilliant performance in the ninth round to catch overnight leader Vedant Garg of Chandigarh, with both players now jointly leading the National Chess Championship standings with 7.5 points each after nine rounds.
Mitra’s impressive showing in the crucial ninth round changed the complexion of the open section, while seven other players are closely placed at 7 points, keeping the championship race wide open with two rounds still to be played.
In the girls’ section, the competition remains equally intense, with Prishita Gupta of Delhi, Saranya Devi Narahari of Andhra Pradesh, Shivamshika G of Telangana and Kirtika B of Telangana sharing the lead with 7 points each after nine rounds.
The championship has attracted a record 286 players representing 30 States and Union Territories, including 38 players from Jammu and Kashmir. The event has also brought together around 200 officials, arbiters, managers, coaches and accompanying persons, underlining its scale and importance on the national chess calendar.
The championship carries a total cash prize of ₹9 lakh and has added significance for aspiring international players as it serves as a direct selection event for World, Asian and Commonwealth-level competitions.
The top three performers will receive substantial institutional support. According to the organisers, the Sports Authority of India will fully sponsor the top three players for four international tours, including the World Championship, while the All India Chess Federation will provide sponsorship support ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
The tournament is being held under the supervision of Atul Kumar Gupta, Chairman of the Planning and Development Commission of the All India Chess Federation and Director of the tournament, ensuring close monitoring of the championship’s organisational and competitive standards.
The technical conduct of the event is being handled by an experienced team of arbiters led by Chief Arbiter Jismon Mathew of Kerala, with Deputy Chief Arbiter Arbind Singh of Bihar and Ovais of Kerala, supported by around 13 additional arbiters from different States.
The championship is being conducted under the FIDE Laws of Chess and follows the Swiss-system format, with a total of 11 rounds scheduled. The format has kept the standings tightly packed, with every remaining round carrying major significance for players seeking the title and selection opportunities.
Organised by the All J&K Chess Association under the aegis of the J&K Sports Council on behalf of the All India Chess Federation, the championship has emerged as a major platform for young chess talent from across the country, while also providing J&K players an opportunity to compete against some of the leading emerging players nationally.
With only two rounds remaining, the joint lead in the open section and the four-way tie in the girls’ category have set up a tense finish, with the final standings likely to be decided by the results of the concluding rounds.
