Suvradeepta Das emerged as the champion of the QGCA Open Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026 after a closely fought nine-round competition in Patna, where three players finished on eight points and the final positions were decided by tie-breaks.
Das finished the tournament unbeaten with 8 points from nine rounds. Reyansh Jagnani also scored eight points to finish second, while Rupesh B. Ramchandra of Bihar took third.
The two-day tournament, held on September 19 and 20, brought together more than 300 players from Bihar and other states, including titled players, experienced competitors and young chess enthusiasts. For two days, the playing hall remained filled with players across generations, from young children competing in age categories to experienced players fighting for the main title.
Organised by Sahyog Educational Foundation & Welfare Society and Queens Gambit Chess Academy (QGCA), Patna, the tournament was conducted under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and All Bihar Chess Association (ABCA). The event carried a total prize fund of ₹3.51 lakh and was registered as FIDE Event 492704/BR(R)/2026.
A tournament for the entire chess community
The QGCA Open Rapid was designed to bring players of different ages and playing levels into the same competitive environment.
Alongside the main prizes, the tournament offered separate categories for rated and unrated players, women, veterans, Patna-based players and several junior age groups. Special prizes were announced for players in Under-8, Under-10, Under-12 and Under-16 categories, giving younger competitors an opportunity to compete for recognition alongside the leading players.
The tournament followed a nine-round FIDE Swiss system, with a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one.
Behind the top three, the competition remained closely contested. Soham Dey finished fourth with 7.5 points, followed by CM Prakhar Tripathi, Kumar Piyush, Aahil Patra and CM K.K. Chatterjee, who also finished on 7.5 points.
The team behind the boards
While hundreds of players battled over the chessboards, a dedicated organising and technical team worked behind the scenes to run the two-day competition.
Saurav Roop served as Organising President, Mamta Singh as Tournament Convenor and Sanjeet Saurav as Tournament Director. The technical side of the tournament was led by IA Nand Kishor, Chief Arbiter, with FA/NI Shahid Husain serving as Deputy Chief Arbiter.
The team was responsible for coordinating registrations, scheduling, pairings, tournament administration, arbitral decisions and issues arising during the competition.
For QGCA, the tournament was also an effort to create more opportunities for competitive and rated chess in Patna and to bring players from different parts of the region onto the same platform.
A last-minute challenge
The tournament, however, did not unfold entirely according to the organisers’ original plan.
A last-minute change of venue created logistical difficulties for both participants and the organising team. The tournament was ultimately conducted at Hotel Diamant Inn, Ranjan Path, Gola Road, Patna.
The organisers have acknowledged the concerns raised by some participants regarding tournament management and apologised for the inconvenience.
“We understand the frustration of the participants and sincerely apologise for the difficulties faced during the tournament,” the organising team said. “The last-minute venue change created challenges for us as well, and some of these difficulties were felt by players and parents.”
The organisers said the experience would also be treated as a learning opportunity.
“We are also learning with every tournament. We will take the feedback seriously and work on the areas where we can improve. We would genuinely welcome suggestions from players, parents and coaches about how future tournaments can be managed better.”
More than a weekend of chess
For many participants, particularly the younger players, the tournament was more than a competition.
Parents and guardians travelled with their children, stayed through multiple rounds and supported them throughout the two-day event. Players also had an opportunity to face opponents from outside their usual chess circles and gain experience in a competitive rated environment.
The organisers thanked all the players, parents and guardians who participated, with particular appreciation for those who travelled from outside Patna, brought their children to the tournament and remained present throughout the event.
For QGCA, the larger objective is to build a stronger competitive chess culture in Patna and provide players—especially young competitors—with regular opportunities to participate in rated tournaments.
The tournament may have ended with Suvradeepta Das lifting the title, but the organisers hope its longer-term impact will be measured by the number of young players who return to the chessboard for their next tournament.
