Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 22:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Jul 14, 2026 16:18 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The Sikkim Chess Association (SCA) has announced the three-day Inter-School Chess Championship, which will be hosted at Sir Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School here from July 24 to 26.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, SCA officials led by general secretary Mahendra Dhakal said they are expecting strong participation from schools, particularly from East Sikkim, in the tournament, which will be conducted under the FIDE Laws of Chess.
The Inter-School Chess Championship is the SCA's annual flagship event. More than 450 students participated in the 2025 edition.
“We are expecting a bigger turnout this year as the number of schools affiliated with the SCA has increased. Around 40 schools in East Sikkim alone are now connected with the association,” said the SCA general secretary.
Participants can register for the tournament by filling out a Google Form and paying an entry fee of Rs 500. The last date for registration is July 22.
The tournament is open to both boys and girls and will feature competitions in the under-7, under-9, under-11 and under-13 categories. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each category. A total of nine rounds will be played, with the SCA aiming to provide maximum playing opportunities to each participant for their development and encouragement.
The association appealed to parents and schools to encourage students to participate in the State-level championship.
Replying to a query, Dhakal said chess has witnessed steady growth in Sikkim over the years, with schools showing greater interest in promoting the game among students. He added that there is an increasing demand from schools for qualified chess coaches.
At present, the SCA has 12 coaches, but the number is insufficient to meet the growing demand, Dhakal said. He added that the association is planning to organise workshops to train more chess coaches in Sikkim.
