J&K UT Open Chess Championship 2026 Concludes with Rs 1 Lakh Prize Distribution
Srinagar, February 17: The J&K UT Open Chess Championship 2026, held from 13th February to 15th February 2026, concluded successfully with enthusiastic participation from across the Union Territory.
A total of 75 players competed in the prestigious tournament, showcasing exceptional talent and competitive spirit.
A total cash prize of ₹1,00,000 was distributed among the winners.
🏆 Final Top 6 Overall Rankings
🥇 1st Place: Sumit Grover – 6.5 points
🥈 2nd Place: Sahil Rashid – 6 points
🥉 3rd Place: Khalid Amin – 5.5 points
4️⃣ Mohammad Aayan Adil Khan – 5.5 points
5️⃣ Muhammad Hamzah Khan – 5.5 points
6️⃣ Anurag Singh – 5.5 points
🌟 Special Category Awardees
Best Veteran: Dr. Akthar Ajaz
Best Female: Zirwa Tariq Sheikh (Under-11)
Best Disabled Player: Rajander Singh
Youngest Participant (Girl): Ayzal Noor
Youngest Participant (Boy): Zoran Tariq Sheikh
Notably, Zirwa Tariq Sheikh, an Under-11 player, delivered an outstanding performance and was awarded Best Female Player, highlighting the emergence of young talent in J&K chess.
🏅 Category Winners
Under-07 Boys
Shah Muhammad Abbas (1st)
Zoran Tariq Sheikh (2nd)
Under-09 Boys
Mohammad Ibaad Gundroo (1st)
Mohammad Awwaab Lone (2nd)
Badrun Nabi (3rd)
Under-11 Boys
Hamzah Malik (1st)
Malik Huzaif Bin Zahid (2nd)
Savar Singh Rana (3rd)
Under-13 Boys
Baba Mohammad Jee (1st)
Shazain Shuja (2nd)
Sheikh Azhar Afaq (3rd)
Under-15 Boys
Anurag Singh (1st)
Aadil Johnson (2nd)
Aatiq Zullah (3rd)
Under-07 Girls
Ayzal Noor (1st)
Under-09 Girls
Simrah Sajad (1st)
Layla Binte Aamir (2nd)
Harnoor Kaur (3rd)
Under-11 Girls
Zirwa Tariq Sheikh (1st)
Under-13 Girls
Fatimultul Zohra (1st)
Shifa Sajad (2nd)
Zaira (3rd)
Under-15 Girls
Afeefa Ikhlaq (1st)
🎖 Chief Guests & Dignitaries
The closing ceremony was graced by distinguished guests:
Farhana Farooq (KPS), Dy. SP Srinagar – Guest of Honour
Sheikh Tariq (JKAS) – Guest of Honour
Zahid Hussain Malik – Special Guest
Zahoor Ahmad (JE) – Special Guest
The dignitaries appreciated the efforts of the organizers in promoting chess at the grassroots level and encouraged young players to pursue excellence in the sport.
The championship concluded on a high note, reinforcing the growing popularity of chess in Jammu & Kashmir and providing a competitive platform for emerging talents.
