- ISSO National Games Chess Competition brings 427 players from 102 schools to Ahmedabad
- Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa inspires the next generation of school chess talent
- Two-day championship features U-11, U-14, U-17 and U-19 boys’ and girls’ categories
- Harsh Sanghavi bats for early talent scouting and stronger school-level sporting platforms
- ADIS hosts national competition as Adani Group continues support for ISSO’s school sports ecosystem
NE SPORTS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 11
What happens when 427 young minds are given the same chessboard, the same clock and two days to out-think their opponents? Ahmedabad is finding out. The city has become a national meeting point for school chess talent as the ISSO National Games Chess Competition 2026 gets underway at Adani International School (ADIS), bringing together young players from 102 schools across India.
And adding star power to the opening move was Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who interacted with the young competitors and encouraged them to embrace the pressure, challenge and joy of competitive chess.
The two-day championship, being held on September 11 and 12, features Under-11, Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 categories for both boys and girls, giving school players a national platform to test their skills against peers from across the country.
More than 800 students, parents, coaches and school representatives are attending the championship.
Where every move becomes a lesson
Chess is often described as a game of calculation. For young competitors, however, the ISSO championship is also a test of concentration, decision-making, preparation, patience and composure under pressure.
The opening ceremony brought together Praggnanandhaa, Namrata Adani, Advisory Board Member, ISSO and Promoter, ADIS, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, whose interaction with participants added to the opening-day excitement.
Sanghavi underlined the importance of identifying sporting potential early and providing the right platforms for young athletes.
“Scouting talent early and creating the right platforms at school-level to nurture and develop that talent are both important for building India’s sporting future. Events like the ISSO Chess Games give young players the opportunity to compete, gain exposure and take the next step in their sporting journey.”
Praggnanandhaa’s message: Enjoy the game, learn from every move
For the young players, meeting one of India’s leading chess stars offered a special moment of inspiration.
Praggnanandhaa said: “It is wonderful to see so many young players coming together from schools across India and getting the opportunity to compete at this level. Tournaments like this are important in helping young players develop their game under pressure and adapt under a competitive environment. I hope everyone enjoys the experience, learns from each game and continues to work hard and pursue their passion for chess. I am happy to be here to encourage them and wish everyone all the best.”
His message captures the larger purpose of the championship: the result of one game may last a few minutes, but the lessons learnt from it can last a lifetime.
Building more than chess champions
Namrata Adani said: “Chess teaches young people to think ahead, make thoughtful decisions and stay composed when the outcome is uncertain. These are qualities that serve them well far beyond the chessboard. Competitions such as this give students the experience of preparing with discipline, competing with confidence and learning from every game, whether they win or lose.”
For ADIS, hosting the ISSO National Games Chess Competition reflects its broader commitment to strengthening the school sports ecosystem and giving students meaningful opportunities to compete.
The Games are supported by the Adani Group, which has been a consistent supporter of ISSO and its efforts to create sporting opportunities for school students.
427 players, 102 schools—and countless opening moves
The participation itself is a signal of the growing appetite for competitive chess among school students.
Aakanksha Thapak, Founder, ISSO, said: “The participation of 427 players from 102 schools is a wonderful reflection of the growing interest in competitive chess at the school level. Having Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa with us to encourage the students makes the opening especially meaningful, and we are grateful to the Adani Group for its continued support of ISSO and its efforts to create meaningful sporting opportunities for young students.”
With four age groups and separate boys’ and girls’ competitions, the championship is designed to provide exposure to high-level inter-school competition while encouraging strategic thinking, concentration, decision-making and resilience.
As the rounds progress, every young player faces the same timeless challenge: anticipate the opponent, control the board, stay calm—and find the move that changes everything.
In Ahmedabad this weekend, the biggest prize may not be the trophy. It may be discovering the next move in India’s extraordinary chess story.
Don’t just take the screen away—give the kid a better game to play
Chess is one of the rare activities that can compete with a screen on the child’s own terms—challenge, excitement, achievement and constant discovery—while quietly building concentration, patience, memory, calculation and decision-making.
