Garv Rai from Delhi secured victory at the 1st Uttarakhand FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026 with an unbeaten 8.5 out of 9 points. He clinched the title after drawing his final-round game, earning a cash prize of ₹31,000. The event featured 249 players from across India.
The 1st Uttarakhand FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026 took place over two days, January 10 and 11, at Bhartiyam International School in Rudrapur. Organized by the DevBhoomi Chess Association, the rapid rating event offered a total prize fund of ₹300,000 and attracted 249 participants, including International Master Akshat Khamparia from Madhya Pradesh.
Garv Rai maintained a perfect 8/8 score entering the final round, where he drew against Shreyansh Sahu to secure first place with 8.5 points, a full point ahead of the field. This marked Rai's first rated tournament victory of the year. Four players finished with 7.5 points, but tiebreaks determined the placings: Shreyansh Sahu took second, and IM Akshat Khamparia earned third.
The final standings after nine rounds highlighted Rai's dominance, with tiebreak scores of 49.25 for first place. Other notable finishers included Kishan Kumar and Nimay Agrawal in a tie for fourth with tiebreaks of 43.25, followed by players like Jagreet Misra, Prakhar Tripathi, and Sparsh Bisht at 39.25. The tournament provided a competitive platform for players nationwide, showcasing emerging talent in Indian chess.
