Ahmedabad-headquartered Chiripal Group, a textile-to-solar conglomerate, on Sunday hosted the opening tournament of the Chiripal Chess Series 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront, marking the launch of an open street chess initiative designed to bring the game closer to the city’s residents and encourage wider participation among new and young players.
“Chess is a game that builds strategic thinking, patience and decision-making — qualities that are valuable far beyond the board. Through the Chiripal Chess Series, we hope to take the game into public spaces and encourage more people, especially children and new players, to experience the excitement of competitive chess. Ahmedabad has a vibrant sporting spirit, and we are delighted to support an initiative that makes the game more accessible, inclusive and engaging for the community,” said Shri Ronak Chiripal, Promoter, Chiripal Group.
Organised under the guidance of Shri Ankit Dalal of My Sport Trip, the series is among the first attempts to stage an open street chess competition in Ahmedabad, with tournaments planned across prominent public locations in the city.
The inaugural blitz-format tournament saw participation from some 200 Chess enthusiasts and seasoned players across age groups, including children. The initiative is aimed at taking chess beyond clubs and closed venues into accessible public spaces, giving new players an opportunity to experience the excitement of competitive play in a structured format.
The competition followed the blitz format, one of the fastest and most dynamic formats of chess, with games played at a time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment. Organisers said the tournament was conducted in a format similar to international competitions, offering participants a structured and competitive playing experience.
Each tournament in the series features a prize pool of Rs 25,000 along with vouchers worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The Chiripal Chess Series 2026 will continue over the coming weeks, with the next tournament scheduled along Sindhu Bhavan Road on March 22, followed by the concluding event at Ahmedabad One Mall on April 4.
Adding to the excitement, Gujarat’s first Grandmaster, Tejas Bakre, attended the opening event and interacted with aspiring players and young enthusiasts, offering them an opportunity to meet one of the state’s most celebrated chess players.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative for the format, visually impaired players also participated in the blitz tournament, reflecting the organisers’ effort to make chess more inclusive for people from different backgrounds.
To further motivate younger players, all participants under the age of 13 are being felicitated with medals across the series.
Through the Chiripal Chess Series, the Chiripal Group aims to transform public spaces into vibrant arenas of strategic play while nurturing a new generation of chess enthusiasts across Ahmedabad.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Anand Iyer @ 98671 69672