The Bal Chess Utsav 2025 – School Chess Championship, organised by the Department of Education in collaboration with the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA), concluded yesterday at the ITI Campus, Dollygunj, drawing nearly 400 young participants from schools across the islands. The two-day event, held as part of the Children’s Day celebrations, featured competitions across six categories including Under-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 19, marking one of the largest school-level chess gatherings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this year.
Gyan Sheel Dubey, Head of Office, Department of Education, attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest, while Archana Singh, DDE (Planning), was present as the guest of honour. Both officials handed over trophies and certificates to the winners, acknowledging the enthusiasm, discipline, and sportsmanship demonstrated by the participants throughout the tournament.
The event saw strong participation across all age groups, with several students showcasing remarkable gameplay and securing top positions in their respective categories. In the Under-19 Girls category, Saranaya A V secured first place, followed by Nandini in second and T Raja Laxmi in third. In the Under-19 Boys section, Yuvan Singh clinched first position, while V. Yashwant and J S Virat finished second and third respectively.
Among the Under-15 Girls, Chittiboina Mageswari emerged as the champion, with N Rashika taking second place and Mahalakshmi M A finishing third. The Under-15 Boys category saw B Lalith secure first place, followed by R. Tejass in second and Ronnie Ronaldo Y in third.
In the Under-13 Girls division, S Sarisha secured the top spot, while K. Mahi and A. V. Shreya took second and third positions. The Under-13 Boys event saw K. Jaivardhan Rao claim first place, followed by Roshan A (Bhaskar) in second and Sharad A in third.
In the Under-11 Girls category, Bhavishya S secured first place, with Agrima Singh finishing second and G. Disha Meenakshi coming in third. The Under-11 Boys category was led by Rohan Singh as the champion, followed by B Hari Prasad and Ashmit Kumar who took second and third positions respectively.
In the Under-9 Girls category, K Hemanshi secured the first position, with D Charvi finishing second and N Shreenika securing third. The Under-9 Boys category saw Saw Jinson Samuel take the top spot, followed by Vignesh B in second and S Eshaan in third.
Among the youngest group of participants, the Under-7 Girls category was won by Shayoni Mandal, while Rudrani S secured second place and N. Danusri finished third. In the Under-7 Boys division, M. Ritwik emerged victorious, with S Medhansh finishing second and K Jaiwant taking third position.
Organisers noted that the Bal Chess Utsav 2025 witnessed one of the highest levels of participation in recent years, reflecting the growing popularity of chess among schoolchildren across the islands. The event aimed to promote critical thinking, focus, and sportsmanship, while providing a competitive platform for budding chess players to showcase their talent.
Officials from the Department of Education and ANCA acknowledged the collective efforts of school authorities, coaches, and parents in encouraging students to participate. They added that events like these help identify young talents who can be trained for higher-level competitions in the future. The closing ceremony marked the distribution of certificates to all winners and participants, concluding the championship on an encouraging and motivational note for the island’s young chess community.
