Chiripal Group to host Ahmedabad’s first open street chess series

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — Ahmedabad-headquartered Chiripal Group, a textile-to-solar diversified conglomerate, will host the Chiripal Chess Series 2026, an open street chess initiative aimed at bringing the game closer to city residents and encouraging wider participation among new and young players. The series will feature three blitz-format tournaments at prominent public locations in Ahmedabad, marking one of the city’s first open street chess competitions.

The tournaments will be held over three weekends starting March 15. The first event will be held at the Sabarmati Riverfront on March 15, followed by a second tournament along Sindhu Bhavan Road on March 22. The final tournament will take place at Ahmedabad One Mall on April 4. Participants should report at 6:30 pm for the first two tournaments, while the indoor event at the mall will begin at 2 pm. The series is organised under the guidance of Ankit Dalal of My Sport Trip.

“Chess builds strategic thinking, patience and decision-making—qualities valuable far beyond the board. Through the Chiripal Chess Series, we aim to bring the game into public spaces and encourage more people, especially children and new players, to experience competitive chess. Ahmedabad has a vibrant sporting culture, and we are pleased to support an initiative that makes the game more accessible, inclusive and engaging for the community,” said Ronak Chiripal, Promoter, Chiripal Group.

As part of its CSR commitment to grassroots sports development, Chiripal Group has supported Cricket and Squash in Gujarat through professionally organised platforms. The group has backed initiatives like the Cricket Premier League for emerging cricket talent and partnered with the All Gujarat Squash Racquet Association to support junior athlete development programmes.

The Chiripal Chess Series 2026 extends this vision to chess by bringing the game into public spaces through a professionally conducted tournament format. The initiative aims to make chess more accessible by moving it beyond clubs and closed venues, while offering children, new players and diverse participants an opportunity to compete in a structured setting. Over time, the initiative seeks to help build a vibrant chess community across the city.

The tournaments will follow the blitz format—one of the fastest and most dynamic forms of chess—where each game is played with a time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment. Organisers say the competitions will be conducted in a format similar to international tournaments, offering players a structured and competitive experience.

Each tournament will feature a prize pool of ₹25,000 along with vouchers worth ₹1.5 lakh. To encourage new players, the first 200 participants will receive free entry and registration, while the first 100 registrants will also receive a complimentary chess set. In total, around 600 players are expected to participate across the three tournaments.

Adding to the excitement, Gujarat’s first Grandmaster, Tejas Bakre, will attend the event to interact with young players and aspiring enthusiasts.

In a first-of-its-kind effort for this format, visually impaired players are also expected to participate in the blitz tournament, reflecting the organisers’ focus on making chess more inclusive.

To encourage younger players, all participants under the age of 13 will receive a medal. Through the Chiripal Chess Series, Chiripal Group aims to transform public spaces into vibrant arenas of strategic play while nurturing a new generation of chess enthusiasts across Ahmedabad.