Adani School Hosts National Chess Games

AHMEDABAD : Ahmedabad has turned into a national chess arena with more than 425 young players from over 100 schools across 10-plus states converging for the two-day ISSO National Games Chess Competition 2026, hosted by Adani International School (ADIS).

The championship, which brings together more than 800 students, parents, coaches and school representatives, is aimed at strengthening competitive sports in school education and giving young chess players a national platform.

The competition features four categories — Under-11, Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 — putting the players’ concentration, strategic thinking, decision-making and ability to remain composed under pressure to the test.

The championship was inaugurated in the presence of Indian chess Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Namrata Adani, a member of the ISSO advisory board and representative of the host institution, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.

Interacting with participants, Sanghavi highlighted the importance of competitive sport and the values that chess instils among young players.

Namrata Adani said chess teaches youngsters to think ahead and make decisions even when the outcome is uncertain.

“Chess teaches young people to think ahead, make quick decisions and remain calm when the outcome is uncertain. These qualities prove useful far beyond the chessboard,” she said.

She added that competitions provide students with an opportunity to experience disciplined preparation, compete confidently and learn from both victories and defeats.

The national championship is also bringing together students from different regions, allowing them to exchange experiences, develop friendships and learn from fellow players.

Organisers said the event seeks to promote discipline, resilience, self-confidence, leadership and sporting skills among students. As the competition progresses, players will face increasingly demanding rounds requiring strategic planning, quick decisions and composure.

The ISSO National Games Chess Competition reflects a wider effort to strengthen the role of sports in education and create meaningful national-level competitive opportunities for school students.