Vesho Doulo, a 12-year-old from Nagaland, achieved a perfect score to claim victory at the AICF Chess for Everyone Fide Rating Open 2026. The five-day FIDE-rated event drew 39 local participants and highlighted growing interest in chess in the region. All players received chessboards from the non-profit Gift of Chess.
The AICF Chess for Everyone Fide Rating Open Chess Tournament 2026 took place from February 10 to 14 at the Ngwalwa Village Council Hall in Peren, Nagaland. Organized by the Interschool Chess Association, the event featured a nominal entry fee of ₹250 and attracted 39 players from Nagaland, with an average age of 16.
Vesho Doulo delivered an undefeated performance, scoring 9 out of 9 points to secure first place. This victory also boosted his FIDE rating by 75 points. Ilung Haikam finished second with 7/9 points, while Icicang Haikam took third place with the same score.
Prizes for the top three included ₹3,000, ₹2,000, and ₹1,500 respectively, along with trophies. Photos of the event were provided by Maciding Doson.
In addition to the competition, every participant received a chessboard donated by The Gift of Chess, a US-based non-profit aiming to distribute one million chess sets worldwide by 2030. The organization, which has reached 70 countries, partners with ChessBase India and the HelpChess Foundation for distributions in India, committing to 30,000 sets. Ambit Capital supported the initiative through its CSR program by covering transportation costs.
The tournament underscores the developing interest in chess in Nagaland, as noted in the event report.