Young Chess players Shine at the 1st East Point Inter-School Rapid Chess Tournament 2026

14.04.26: East Point Senior Secondary School, in technical collaboration with the Sikkim Chess Association (SCA), successfully hosted the inaugural 1st East Point Inter-School Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 today. The event saw a massive turnout of nearly 300 students representing 30 schools from across the region, gathered to compete in a showcase of intellectual skill and discipline.

The tournament was graced by Chief Guest Smt. Kusum Tamang (President, West Pendam GPU), alongside SCA President Shri Lila Prasad Acharya and other distinguished guests. Director Nishant Subba emphasized that the event aligns with NEP 2020 guidelines, promoting holistic education by encouraging students to engage in sports that build concentration and strategic thinking.

The competition was fiercely contested across multiple age groups, highlighting the growing chess talent in Sikkim. In the Under 7 category, Aavya Agarwal (Girls) and Nivaan Agarwal (Boys) secured first place, followed by runners-up Tritya Karki and Jaden Yonzone, and third-place finishers Amira Dahal and Spandan Raj Ram. The Under 9 titles were claimed by Rishika Periwal (Girls) and Shravin Basnett (Boys), with Tanvika Nayak and Jordan Rai taking second, and Adishree Chettri and Kabir Dahal finishing third. In the Under 11 Girls division, Tanya Prajapati emerged victorious, followed by Pema Yangchen Topden and Aarohi Rai.

In the higher age brackets and open categories, the excellence continued with Suyog Shital Pradhan winning the Under 13 Boys title and B.S. Neelanjana taking the Under 13 Girls top spot. The Open Boys category saw a high-level display of tactics, with Md. Sahil emerging as the champion, followed by Nirav Dhakal in second place and Prichay Subba in third. Meanwhile, the Open Girls category saw a brilliant performance by Manasvi Acharya, who took first place, followed by Ripanshi Rabhya Gautam in second and Desial Ongmu Bhutia in third. 

The event concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony where certificates and mementos were awarded to the achievers by the dignitaries. School Captain Awantika Pradhan closed the day with a vote of thanks, celebrating the spirit of unity and the successful execution of this major sporting milestone.