##### CBSE National Chess Championship 2025-26 Concludes at MDS School, Udaipur

Udaipur,  The grand closing ceremony of the CBSE National Chess Championship 2025-26 was held at MDS School, Pratap Nagar, Udaipur, marking a historic milestone as Rajasthan hosted this national-level tournament for the very first time. The event concluded on Friday afternoon at 2:30 PM in the school’s central court amidst an atmosphere of pride and celebration.

The distinguished presence of Mr. Shyam Kapoor, Regional Officer, CBSE Ajmer as Chief Guest, and special guests RAS officers Jitendra Ojha and Ramesh Bahedia, along with trustees Mr. Ramesh Chandra Somani, Mrs. Pushpa Somani, and social worker Sudhir Joshi, elevated the occasion. Medals, trophies, and mementoes were awarded to winners, while Chief Arbiter Rajendra Teli and fellow judges were also felicitated. All participants received certificates and commemorative tokens.

MDS School’s Performance
MDS School displayed spirited participation. Its Under-14 Girls team secured a commendable fourth place after a nail-biting contest against Velammal Mogappair (Chennai). The Under-17 Mixed team finished in the seventh position. Notably, Kiyana Parihar brought laurels to the school and Udaipur by clinching a silver medal and board prize in the individual category.

Results Overview
The championship saw strong performances by schools across India and abroad. The Velammal Group of Institutions (Chennai) dominated most categories, taking home multiple titles:

Under-19 Mixed: Velammal Karambakkam (1st), Velammal Alapakkam (2nd), Silicon City Academy Bengaluru (3rd).

Under-19 Girls: Velammal Alapakkam (1st), Sunbeam Annapurna Varanasi (2nd), Indian School Muscat, Oman (3rd).

Under-17 Mixed: Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria, Kolkata (1st), DPS Qatar (2nd), Sunbeam Annapurna Varanasi (3rd).

Under-17 Girls: Velammal Ayanambakkam (1st), GEMS Our Own English High School, Dubai (2nd), Amity International Noida (3rd).

Under-14 Mixed: Velammal Alapakkam (1st), The Mother’s International Delhi (2nd), Step by Step Noida (3rd).

Under-14 Girls: Velammal Ayanambakkam (1st), Velammal Mogappair (2nd), Indian School Muscat, Oman (3rd).

Under-11 Mixed: Velammal Mangadu (1st), Maharishi Vidya Mandir Tamil Nadu (2nd), Khelgaon Public School Prayagraj (3rd).

Under-11 Girls: Velammal Vanagaram (1st), Sri Basaveshwara Primary School Karnataka (2nd), Bal Bharti Public School Pitampura Delhi (3rd).

Messages and Reflections
The closing ceremony was marked by the flag-lowering of the CBSE and MDS School flags. Delivering an inspiring message, Mr. Shyam Kapoor urged students to protect the environment, uphold cleanliness, avoid felling trees, and extend helpfulness in society. Defining chess in three words—Planning, Execution, and sometimes Surrender—he encouraged young minds to embrace discipline and strategy in life.

A Proud First for Rajasthan
MDS School Director-Principal Dr. Shailendra Somani, while presenting the detailed championship report, expressed that this event was not only a matter of pride for the players but also for the entire city of Udaipur and Rajasthan. The championship was hailed by guests, arbiters, coaches, and participants alike as one of the finest national-level chess tournaments ever conducted under CBSE.

The championship concluded with the National Anthem and ceremonial flag-lowering, leaving behind an atmosphere of pride, inspiration, and celebration for Udaipur as a gracious host.