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:

Anwar-ul-Haq Khanji (KPS), Dy. SP Srinagar – Chief Guest

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.