Mumbai, 6 November: Ivaan Dubey, Liyaa Krishnan, Kaushik Ajinkya Rayate, Tvesha Ashish Jain, Samvid Pasbola and Khanak Paharia won their categories as the first phase of the SBI Life Maharashtra State Schools Chess Championship 2026 ended at Rustomjee Cambridge International School in Dahisar (West) on Friday.
The seven-round, FIDE-rated event drew 417 players across six categories in the Under-7, Under-11 and Under-15 age groups. It was organised and conducted by Indian Chess School. Earlier reports covered the opening day and the 17 players on perfect scores.
Dubey wins seven out of seven
Top seed Ivaan Dubey (1545) of Brainiacs International School was the most dominant winner, taking the Under-7 Open title with seven wins from seven games. Yuvansh Nimja (1453) of Global Indian International School finished second on six points, ahead of Advik Verma (1447) of Vibgyor High School, Kharghar, on tie-break.
In the Under-7 Girls section, top seed Liyaa Krishnan (1558) of Kanakia International School won with six points. Eleanor D’Souza of Witty International School, Mumbai, took second place with 5½ points, followed by Neerja Onkar Jadhav, also on 5½.
Under-11 and Under-15 titles
Kaushik Ajinkya Rayate (1490) of SNBP International School, Rahatani, won the Under-11 Open with 6½ points. Agastya N. Kasat (1527) of CNS Mumbai was runner-up on six points, and Viren Rohit Boricha of Matrix Academy School finished third, also on six.
Tvesha Ashish Jain (1697) of Greenlawns High School, the top seed, took the Under-11 Girls title with 6½ points. Aashvi Ankit Agarwal (1634) of Gundecha Education Academy was second on six, and Sanamary John Paul (1463) of R. N. Podar School third on five.
Top seed Samvid Pasbola (1912) of Hiranandani Foundation International School won the Under-15 Open on six points. AFM Rayan Merchant (1822) of C. N. M. School, Vile Parle, was second with 5½, and AFM Taseen Rafique Tadavi (1802) of St. Teresa’s Convent High School third, also on 5½.
In the Under-15 Girls category, Khanak Paharia (1588) of Narayana E-Techno School, Andheri, won with six points. Mahua Vighnesh Deshpande (1527) of C. N. M. School, Vile Parle, finished second on 5½, and Pranitha Bhava (1655) of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya third on five.
Route to the National Schools Championship
Under Maharashtra Chess Association regulations, the top two finishers in each of the six categories will represent Maharashtra at the forthcoming National Schools Chess Championship.
International Arbiter P. B. Bhilare and Tournament Director Praful Zaveri, founder and managing director of Indian Chess School, presented the prizes. The top three in each category received SBI Life trophies, while players placed fourth to tenth were given medals. Each of the top ten in all six categories also won ₹10,000, taking the total prize fund to ₹6 lakh.
Winners and runners-up
Under-7 Open: 1. Ivaan Dubey (7), 2. Yuvansh Nimja (6), 3. Advik Verma (6).
Under-7 Girls: 1. Liyaa Krishnan (6), 2. Eleanor D’Souza (5½), 3. Neerja Onkar Jadhav (5½).
Under-11 Open: 1. Kaushik Ajinkya Rayate (6½), 2. Agastya N. Kasat (6), 3. Viren Rohit Boricha (6).
Under-11 Girls: 1. Tvesha Ashish Jain (6½), 2. Aashvi Ankit Agarwal (6), 3. Sanamary John Paul (5).
Under-15 Open: 1. Samvid Pasbola (6), 2. AFM Rayan Merchant (5½), 3. AFM Taseen Rafique Tadavi (5½).
Under-15 Girls: 1. Khanak Paharia (6), 2. Mahua Vighnesh Deshpande (5½), 3. Pranitha Bhava (5).
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