Sports


Veer, Hriday stay unbeaten to emerge champs at Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship

Mumbai, Nov 15 (UNI) Veer Dhaval Shah and AIM Hriday Maniar produced outstanding performances, winning all seven games in their respective categories, as the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 concluded at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar (West), on Sunday.


The three-day championship, organised by Indian Chess School, witnessed keen competition among 387 players across six FIDE-rated categories in the Under-9, Under-13 and Under-17 Open and Girls sections.


Veer Dhaval Shah of Jamnabai Narsee School, JVPD, dominated the Under-9 Open category, while Hriday Maniar completed a remarkable clean sweep in the Under-17 Open section. Lavanya Singh, Vihaan Anupam Agrawal, Tisyaa Apurva Patt and Drishya Naik emerged champions in the remaining four categories.

A total cash prize fund of RS 60,000 was allocated across the six categories, with Rs 10,000 earmarked for each category. The top three finishers in every category received glittering SBI Life trophies, while players finishing fourth to tenth were honoured with SBI Life medals.


In the Under-9 Open category, Veer Dhaval Shah (1501) of Jamnabai Narsee School, JVPD, emerged as the undisputed champion with a perfect score of seven points from seven rounds. Ivaan Dubey (1545), who had earlier won the Under-7 Open title in the first stage, secured second place with six points, while Aarav Ravi Jhavar (1571) of Jamnabai Narsee School finished third with six points.


The Under-9 Girls category witnessed an exciting three-way finish, with Lavanya Singh (1448) of Sanjivani International School emerging champion with six points on superior tie-break. Ishi Singh (1538) of J. B. Petit High School for Girls also scored six points to secure second place, while Nikita Sandeep (1411) finished third with six points.


In the Under-13 Open category, Vihaan Anupam Agrawal (1858) of Narayana Olympiad School emerged champion with six points from seven rounds, edging out top seed Nirvaan Nirav Shah (1956) of Don Bosco International School, who also scored six points but had to settle for second place on tie-break.


In the Under-13 Girls category, Tisyaa Apurva Patt (1524) of Avalon Heights International School produced an impressive performance to clinch the championship with six points from seven rounds. Pranitha Bhava (1655) of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya secured second place with 5.5 points.


The Under-17 Open category witnessed a commanding performance by top seed AIM Hriday Maniar (1910), who maintained his winning streak throughout the championship to secure the
title with a perfect score of seven points from seven rounds.


Shaurya Ashish Modi (1626) finished second with 5.5 points, while Soham Sudarshan Sahamate (1667) secured third place, also with 5.5 points.


In the Under-17 Girls category, top seed Drishya Naik (1713) emerged as a convincing champion with 6.5 points from seven rounds, finishing 1.5 points ahead of her nearest challengers.


The championship served as the selection tournament for the National Schools Chess Championship, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad from December 16 to 20, 2026. The top two finishers in each of the six categories have earned the opportunity to represent Maharashtra at the national championship.
UNI BM
More News

J&K Sports Minister declares open U-17 Girls’ Cricket Championship

15 Nov 2026 | 8:48 PM

Jammu, Nov 15 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Mir Saifullah, on Sunday declared open the 70th National School Games U-17 Girls Cricket Tournament at the floodlit University of Jammu grounds, amid an impressive, colourful and well-attended opening ceremony.

see more..

Veer, Hriday stay unbeaten to emerge champs at Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship

15 Nov 2026 | 8:35 PM

Mumbai, Nov 15 (UNI) Veer Dhaval Shah and AIM Hriday Maniar produced outstanding performances, winning all seven games in their respective categories, as the Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 concluded at Rustomjee Cambridge International School, Dahisar (West), on Sunday.

see more..

Rajesh Kumar Gautam’s team wins Pro-Am event of IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf

15 Nov 2026 | 6:42 PM

Digboi, Nov 15 (UNI) Professional golfer Rajesh Kumar Gautam led his team to victory in the Pro-Am event of the IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf 2026, scoring 111 points here on Sunday.

see more..

AB de Villiers' Sub-Saharan Africa beat Matthew Hayden's Australasia in first Test Twenty match

15 Nov 2026 | 5:36 PM

Colombo, Nov 15 (UNI) First blood in cricket's newest rivalry went to AB de Villiers' mentored Sub-Saharan Africa as they beat Matthew Hayden's mentored Australasia by five wickets at SSC Stadium here, in the first Test Twenty match ever played.

see more..

India wins three bronze medals at Tent Pegging World Cup; Haryana Police personnel part of team

15 Nov 2026 | 5:25 PM

Panchkula, Nov 15 (UNI) India won three bronze medals at the fifth International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF) World Cup in Aqaba, Jordan, with two Haryana Police personnel participating, one as a player and the other as the national coach, in the equestrian cavalry sport, officials said on Sunday. .

see more..