Kaziranga Chess Carnival 2026: Amlan Mahanta Wins Open Title

The second edition of the Kaziranga Chess Carnival concluded successfully today at Borgos Resort, Kohora, drawing 140 chess players from across India in what has quickly become one of Assam's notable sporting and tourism events.

The one-day tournament was held across three categories — Under-10, Under-15 and Open. In the Open category, Amlan Mahanta claimed the top prize of ₹25,000, with Iftikar Alom Mazumdar and Tanmay Rajbongshi finishing second and third respectively. Total prize money for the event stood at ₹1 lakh.

In the Under-15 Boys category, Abhirup Handique topped the standings, followed by Ankit Doley and Bishwajit Boruah, while Debangee Parijat led the Under-15 Girls field. Among the younger players, Chow Rudraanshu Pran Gogoi and Nairiti Das won the Under-10 Boys and Girls categories respectively.

The tournament, conducted in a seven-round Swiss League format, was inaugurated by former Commonwealth Chess Champion and International Master Atanu Lahiri, alongside Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia, who made the ceremonial opening moves.

International Arbiter Biswajit Bharadwaj, former coach of the Indian Chess Team, oversaw the event and called it a significant step for chess in Northeast India.

Organised by Adian Business Solutions in collaboration with Aaghun Foundation and Assam Chess Club, the carnival is part of a broader vision to promote year-round tourism in Kaziranga. Aaghun Foundation Director Abhijit Gogoi said the event aims to grow into a week-long international chess festival attracting over a thousand players from around the world in the coming years.