AIM Shibantak Saha Clinches AICF “Chess for Everyone” FIDE Rating Tournament in Agartala

The Tripura Chess Association, under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), successfully concluded the five-day “Chess for Everyone” FIDE Rating Chess Tournament at the NSRCC Yoga Hall in Agartala, drawing well over a hundred players from across the country between 26th and 30th June 2026.

After nine hard-fought rounds, AIM Shibantak Saha of West Bengal emerged champion with 7½ points, edging out a strong chasing pack on tie-break. Shakya Singha Modak of Tripura finished as the 1st Runner-up, also on 7½ points, while AFM Dutta Umashankar of Tripura completed the podium as 2nd Runner-up, likewise scoring 7½ points. WCM Aaradhya Das, the top-placed woman player in the Open section, finished fourth with 7 points, narrowly missing the top three on tie-break.

A Tournament for Every Age and Category

True to its name, “Chess for Everyone” lived up to its billing as a tournament that welcomed players across every age group and rating band, from the Under-7 category all the way through to the Veteran (50+) section. Prizes and trophies were awarded across a wide sweep of categories — Best Rating groups (Below 1800 and Below 1600), Unrated players, Female 15+, Veterans, and age-category prizes spanning Under-15, Under-13, Under-11, Under-9 and Under-7, for both boys and girls.

Among the notable performances, Rishabh Kumar of Assam topped the Best Rating Category (Below 1800), Swarup Chakraborty of Assam led the Unrated category, and Sraddha Dhar of Assam won the Female 15+ category — reflecting the tournament’s reach well beyond the host state. In the same Below-1800 category, Upadhriti Bhattacharya of West Bengal put in a fine performance to finish 3rd with 6 points, a result that also stood out as one of the strongest showings by a young woman player (Under-11 girls) in the entire field. Young talents such as Adwait Majumder, Ayantika Deb, Dwiptaneel Deb, Adrija Saha, Dilshad S and Pal Abhiraj were among the many age-category champions crowned across the boys’ and girls’ sections, underlining the strong grassroots participation the event generated in Tripura and the wider Northeast.

Technology at the Forefront

A hallmark of this edition was the seamless integration of modern chess technology into a state-level rating event. Top boards were conducted on DGT electronic boards, allowing moves to be transmitted and relayed digitally in real time — a facility more commonly associated with national and international events, and a welcome upgrade for players and spectators alike in Agartala.

Building on this, the organizers arranged live broadcast of games on both Lichess and Chess.com, giving chess enthusiasts, parents and well-wishers across India the opportunity to follow the action move-by-move from anywhere in the world. This blend of on-the-ground DGT infrastructure with global online streaming brought a new level of transparency and accessibility to a regional tournament, and is a model other state associations would do well to emulate.

Appreciation for Arbiters and Organizers

The tournament ran smoothly across its nine rounds under the careful stewardship of Chief Arbiter IA Anupam Bhattacharjee, whose meticulous pairing, prompt results updates and calm handling of the playing hall kept the event on schedule throughout. The officiating team’s professionalism was widely appreciated by players, coaches and parents alike.

Equal credit is due to the Tripura Chess Association and the local organizing committee, whose efforts in securing the NSRCC Yoga Hall venue, coordinating logistics for a large and diverse field of players, and ensuring a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout the five days did not go unnoticed. Their commitment to growing the game at the grassroots — while simultaneously offering a technologically world-class playing experience — deserves special mention.

A Fitting Finale

The closing ceremony saw prizes and trophies distributed across the many categories, capping off a tournament that combined competitive intensity at the top with genuine inclusivity throughout the field. With FIDE-rated action, DGT boards, and live global streaming all coming together in Agartala, the “Chess for Everyone” tournament has set a new benchmark for chess events in Tripura and the Northeast — and offered a glimpse of how the sport can be made accessible to players of every age and level.

Full results, round-by-round pairings and downloadable game PGNs are available on the official Chess-Results page for the event (AICF Event Code: 480764/TR/2026).

Prize Winners Summary

Main Prizes (Open)

Best Rating Category (Below 1800, incl. Unrated)

Best Rating Category (Below 1600, incl. Unrated)

Best Category: Unrated

Best Category: Female 15+

Best Category: Veteran (50+)

(Age-category trophy winners across Under-15, Under-13, Under-11, Under-9 and Under-7, boys’ and girls’ sections, are listed in the official prize distribution list.)

Event: AICF Chess for Everyone FIDE Rating Chess Tournament — Tripura 2026
Event Code: 480764/TR/2026
Dates: 26–30 June 2026
Venue: NSRCC Yoga Hall, Agartala, Tripura
Chief Arbiter: IA Anupam Bhattacharjee (FIDE ID: 33391750)
Organizer: Tripura Chess Association
Live Broadcast: Lichess, Chess.com
Full Results: Chess-Results Server (chess-results.com), Tournament No. 1414956