Sri Vijaya Puram | January 28, 2026
The Republic Day Open Blitz Chess Tournament 2026 was successfully organized on January 25 at Flag Point in connection with the celebrations marking the 77th Republic Day. The tournament was conducted by the Directorate of Education in collaboration with the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA).
The event was inaugurated by Mr. Vikram Singh, Director (Education & Sports), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, who formally declared the tournament open by making the first move on the top board. Addressing the participants, he underscored the importance of sports, particularly chess, in fostering critical thinking, discipline and sportsmanship among students and youth.
The tournament witnessed keen competition, with players participating in seven rounds of fast-paced blitz chess. After a series of intense matches, Yuvan Singh emerged as the winner, securing the first position. Rohan Singh finished as the runner-up, while K. Jaivardhan Rao claimed the third position.
The closing ceremony was graced by Ms. Geeta Rani Verma, IPS, Inspector General of Police, as the chief guest. She distributed trophies and medals to the winners and congratulated all participants for their commendable performances. In addition, the top 20 players of the tournament were felicitated in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
The tournament added a competitive and intellectual dimension to the Republic Day celebrations, highlighting the growing interest in chess in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
