VIDIT GUJRATHI Joins Chess for Everyone 3.0 in Trivandrum as Sahoo Utkal Claims Perfect 8/8 Championship

→ Premier Chess Academy is delighted to announce the successful conclusion of Chess for Everyone 3.0 – Classical FIDE Rated Tournament, held from 1–4 October 2026 at Premier Chess Academy, Vazhuthacaud, TVM, Kerala.

→ The third edition continued the core mission of Chess for Everyone — FREE ENTRY, ZERO CASH PRIZE, and meaningful competitive opportunities for aspiring chess players.

→ The tournament was contested over eight rounds of Classical chess, with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment from move one.

🏆 Sahoo Utkal Ranjan Crowned Champion with a Perfect 8/8!

Sahoo Utkal Ranjan of Odisha, rated 2325, produced a flawless tournament, winning the Chess for Everyone 3.0 Classical championship with a remarkable perfect score of 8/8. Immediately behind him came two of Kerala’s promising young talents.

Top 5 Championship Standings

Final Stadings of Classical FIDE Rated Tournament (Chess for Everyone 3.0) October 2026

View the complete final standings of the Classical FIDE Rated Tournament.

chess-results-classical-fide.com

🥇 Overall Top 15

🔥 Kerala’s Young Players Make Their Mark

◆ One of the biggest stories of Chess for Everyone 3.0 was the remarkable performance of Kerala’s young players.

◆ Muhammed Thoufeek N, aged 14, finished 2nd overall with 7/8, while Muhammad Ihsan, aged 12, took 3rd with 6.5/8.

A special congratulations goes to five-year-olds Dakshina Deepak and Aashmika A Arun, who completed the demanding Classical tournament and scored one point each. From senior competitors to children taking their first steps in tournament chess, Chess for Everyone lived up to its name.

⭐Super GM Vidit Gujrathi Makes Chess for Everyone 3.0 Truly Special

★ Premier Chess Academy had the honour of welcoming Super Grandmaster and Arjuna Awardee Vidit Gujrathi to Trivandrum for a special evening on 3 October 2026 at Hilton Garden Inn, Trivandrum.

★ For the young players, this was not simply an opportunity to see one of India’s finest chess players from a distance.

“They could meet him. Talk to him. Ask him questions. Take photographs with him. And, for some, sit across the chessboard and play against him.”

★ The evening began with a special welcome and inspirational interaction with Vidit, followed by an engaging “Ask Vidit” Q&A session, giving children and participants the opportunity to put their questions directly to a Super Grandmaster.

♟️Taking on a Super GM – Vidit’s Simultaneous Exhibition

☆ Vidit concluded the evening with a Simultaneous Chess Exhibition, taking on multiple players across several boards at the same time.

☆ For the participants, it was a rare opportunity to experience first-hand the calculation, speed and decision-making of an elite Grandmaster.

☆ For many of the children, playing even a single game against a player of Vidit’s calibre will be an experience they remember long after the moves themselves are forgotten.

Celebrating Team India & Arjuna Awardee Vidit Gujrathi

● A special cake-cutting ceremony celebrated Team India’s victory at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, while also celebrating Vidit Gujrathi’s achievement as an Arjuna Award recipient.

● The evening also became a celebration of Indian chess. It was a memorable moment connecting two generations — one of India’s established chess stars alongside children who are only beginning their own journeys in the game.

🌴From the Chessboard to Kerala – Vidit Experiences God’s Own Country

✧ Vidit’s visit to Trivandrum also offered an opportunity to experience Kerala’s culture, traditions and hospitality.

✧ During his stay, Vidit enjoyed an authentic traditional Kerala meal served on a banana leaf, experiencing the flavours and hospitality for which the state is known.

✧ He also visited the iconic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum, one of Kerala’s best-known cultural and spiritual landmarks.

✧ It added another dimension to the visit — bringing together chess, Kerala’s culture and local hospitality.

🤝 Team Premier That Made It Happen!

❤️ FREE ENTRY. ZERO CASH PRIZE. LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITY.

⇒ At the heart of Chess for Everyone is a simple belief:

⇒ Chess for Everyone 3.0 therefore continued as a social-cause event with FREE ENTRY and ZERO CASH PRIZE.

⇒ There was no financial reward waiting for the champion. Instead, players came for something different — competition, experience, improvement, ratings, recognition and the love of chess.

“Congratulations to Chess for Everyone 3.0 Champion Sahoo Utkal Ranjan, Muhammed Thoufeek N, Muhammad Ihsan, all our category winners and every player who participated.”

● Our sincere thanks to players, parents, arbiters, volunteers, supporters and everyone behind the scenes who helped make the third edition possible.

● And a very special thank you to Super GM Vidit Gujrathi for spending time with our players and helping make Chess for Everyone 3.0 an edition to remember.