- Over 220 players converge at Nexus Ahmedabad One Mall for the grand finale
- Citywide series engages 600+ participants across three buzzing public venues
- From Sabarmati Riverfront to Sindhu Bhavan Road, chess steps out of clubs into the crowd
- Blitz format electrifies young, first-time and visually impaired players
- Chiripal Group bets big on grassroots sports culture
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, APR 7
In a city better known for commerce and culture, checkmates echoed louder than traffic this past month as the Chiripal Chess Series 2026 transformed Ahmedabad’s public spaces into vibrant battlegrounds of intellect and instinct.
The Ahmedabad-headquartered Chiripal Group wrapped up its ambitious Open Street Chess Series with a high-energy finale at Nexus Ahmedabad One Mall, drawing over 220 participants on the final day alone.
The three-leg series—spanning iconic venues like Sabarmati Riverfront and Sindhu Bhavan Road—saw an impressive cumulative participation of more than 600 players, redefining how chess is experienced in the city.
“Following the encouraging response across all three tournaments, it is heartening to see the initiative culminate with such strong participation. Through this series, we aimed to build a more inclusive and engaging chess culture in Ahmedabad by bringing the game closer to communities and inspiring young and first-time players. We aspire and hope to continue with the initiative in the years to come. At Chiripal Group, we believe in taking the lead for nurturing the sports ecosystem at the grassroots level and up,” said Ronak Chiripal.
Designed to break the stereotype of chess being confined to elite clubs, the initiative brought the game into open, accessible spaces—welcoming children, amateurs, and even visually impaired participants to experience structured competitive play.
Under the guidance of Ankit Dalal, the series stayed true to its inclusive ethos, blending competition with community engagement.
The tournaments adopted the blitz format—arguably the most thrilling version of chess—with each game played under a tight time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment, keeping adrenaline levels high and decisions razor-sharp.
Adding to the excitement, each leg featured a prize pool of ₹25,000 along with vouchers worth ₹1.5 lakh. Young participants under the age of 13 were also recognised with medals, ensuring encouragement at the grassroots level.
More than just a tournament, the Chiripal Chess Series has laid the foundation for a cultural shift—where public spaces double up as arenas of strategic brilliance, and where the next generation of chess minds finds inspiration not behind closed doors, but in the heart of the city.
