Karnataka State Amateur Below 2000 Chess Championship 2026

The Karnataka State Amateur Below 2000 Chess Championship 2026, conducted under the auspices of the Karnataka State Chess Association, concluded successfully at Sri Manjunatha Swamy Kalyana Mantapa, Katamnallur Gate, Whitefield–Hoskote Main Road, Bengaluru.

A total of 457 players from across Karnataka participated in the championship, including 246 FIDE-rated players, making it one of the strongest state-level amateur events of the year. The top seed of the tournament was Prashanth J Naik (1950).

The championship ended on an exciting note with intense competition witnessed across all rounds. Prashanth J Naik emerged as the champion with an unbeaten score of 8 points. Young talent Vidhu Thota from Bengaluru also scored 8 points and secured the runner-up position on tie-breaks after an impressive and consistent performance throughout the tournament.

Arushi Severin Helen D Silva from Dakshina Kannada finished in third place with 8 points and also emerged as the highest-ranked female player of the championship. Indrajit Majumdar, Digvijay Sunil, and Aarav Das followed closely with 7½ points each after a series of hard-fought games.

Several promising junior players displayed exceptional talent and fighting spirit during the event. Yuvanesh A, Srikara Darbha, Dahale Rajas, and Sumeetkumar M S completed the top ten standings with 7 points each.

The championship showcased the growing strength and depth of chess talent across Karnataka and concluded with great enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.

Final Standings