Sahajveer Singh Maras and Chhavi Zade emerged as champions in the open and girls categories, respectively, at a recent under-13 chess tournament in Nagpur. They secured top spots with strong performances, earning selection for the state championship. Prizes were awarded in a ceremony attended by chess officials.
In the open group of the Nagpur district under-13 chess championship, Sahajveer Singh Maras claimed the title, followed by Chirag Lahoti in second place. Their achievements qualified both for the Maharashtra state Under-13 Open chess Championship scheduled later in 2026.
The girls group saw Chhavi Zade dominate with 7 points out of 8 rounds, securing the championship. Anushka Deshpande finished as runner-up with 6.5 points. Four players tied with 6 points each: Yashika Musale, Ayanshi Bhengade, Ojaswi Poharkar, and Anvi Hirde, who were ranked third to sixth based on tie-break scores. Chhavi Zade and Anushka Deshpande were selected to represent Nagpur in the state Under-13 Girls chess Championship.
Prizes were distributed by International Arbiter and former MCA secretary TN Bahadure, along with senior national chess player and coach Vinay Barhanpure. The event was observed by MCA committee member SS Soman, with Chief Arbiter IA Shiva Iyer on the dais. SNA Akash Rewatkar announced the winners' names.
FA Shiva Iyer served as Chief Arbiter, assisted by FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharati Dhote, SNA Akash Rewatkar, and SNA Shrikant Bagde. The tournament highlighted young talent from the region, setting the stage for state-level competition.
