Chess and IIT Kanpur

Chess has been an important part of IIT Kanpur’s campus culture for years. Founded in 2007, Chess Club IITK has built a thriving community through its annual championship cycle, internal tournaments, practice sessions, and collegiate competitions. While the club has always focused on encouraging chess within the institute, it has also looked for ways to bring more players into the game and create opportunities beyond the campus.

We’ve been fortunate to host and interact with some of the biggest names in Indian chess, including GM D Gukesh, GM Arjun Erigaisi, Sagar Bhai, Amruta ma’am, and GM Srinath Narayanan, among many others! We’ve live-streamed with them, learned from them, and grown because of them.

One such initiative was organising a FIDE-rated tournament at IIT Kanpur. With relatively few large-scale tournaments taking place regularly around Kanpur, the club saw an opportunity to bring experienced players, aspiring talents, and chess enthusiasts together on a common platform. This idea came to life in February 2026 with the first edition of the FIDE-Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament.

A Memorable First Edition

Held on 7 February 2026, the inaugural tournament attracted 336 participants, including four International Masters, a FIDE Master, and two Candidate Masters. With a prize pool of ₹2,00,000, the event brought together players of different ages and playing strengths for nine rounds of competitive chess.

Games in action

IM Anuj Shrivatri won the tournament with 8/9 points, capping off a closely contested event. However, the experience was about much more than the final standings. One of the highlights was watching IIT Kanpur students compete against experienced, titled players. Several previously unrated campus players participated in their first FIDE-rated tournament, and many earned their initial ratings through the event.

Anuj scored 8/9 points to win the event; he won ₹40,000 and a beautiful trophy

The tournament also brought together players across generations, from young children taking their first steps in competitive chess to seasoned competitors with years of experience. It was encouraging to see participants from diverse backgrounds share the same playing hall, united by their love for the game. The event reinforced the idea that chess can offer a common ground for everyone, regardless of age, experience, or physical ability.

Akshat Rastogi (on the left) took part in the event and showed his love for the game!

For the organising team, bringing together this many participants was a significant achievement. Making the event happen required extensive planning and coordination, but the enthusiasm of the participants made the effort worthwhile. It also reinforced the club’s belief that there was considerable scope for more such tournaments in the region.

Team Behind this Successful Event at IITK: (Left to Right) Pulkit Gajipara, Kushagra Shukla, Tanmay Sahare, and Akshat Srivastava

Chess Club IITK shared a beautiful message after their 1st major in-person tournament

Building on the Success

The response to the first edition motivated Chess Club IITK to bring the tournament back and build on what it had achieved. The second edition aims to make competitive chess accessible to even more players, whether they are looking to earn their first FIDE rating, test themselves against stronger opponents, or compete for the top prizes.

Click here for more details

The tournament will feature prizes across rating categories, for the best veteran and best woman player, and for the top IIT Kanpur participants. Dedicated categories for players under 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 years of age will also recognise promising young talent. Through these opportunities, the club hopes to encourage more players to move from casual games to organised competition and contribute to the growth of chess in Kanpur and the surrounding region.

Main Prizes

A Club That Continues to Grow

The tournament is one of several ways in which Chess Club IITK is expanding its activities. The club recently launched its new website https://www.chessclubiitk.in/, giving players a dedicated place to explore the club’s history, create accounts, and register for events. This is another step towards making the club’s activities more accessible and building a stronger connection with the chess community.

A glimpse of IITK Grand Swiss

Behind these initiatives is a team of coordinators, secretaries, and volunteers who work together to turn ideas into reality. The contributions of past coordinators have also played an important role in shaping the club and laying the groundwork for its continued growth.

Friendly matchplays, lightning blitz tables, and casual chess out in the open campus air.

As the second edition approaches, the club hopes to welcome familiar faces alongside participants experiencing the tournament for the first time. The ambition is to make this event a lasting part of IIT Kanpur’s chess culture, where young players can discover their potential, experienced competitors can find worthy challenges, and everyone feels welcome at the board.

For Chess Club IITK, the goal extends beyond organising an annual tournament. It is about building a community that grows with every edition and creating opportunities for more people to experience the excitement of competitive chess. Check out the Gallery, Events, and Calendar of Chess Club IITK.

Tournament Details

We hope to see you at the tournament, bringing your best moves and joining us for a day of competitive chess, new connections, and memorable games. See you at the board. Happy Chessing!

Important Links

Brochure, helper document, and hotels nearby: Here

Official Website, Instagram, Standings and Results

Official Tournament WhatsApp group: Here