Fakir Majhi emerged champion in the 1 st KCA International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament, which was organised by Marwadi Yuva Manch Jagruti Sakha, under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) at Vikash Residential School, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi from 3 to 7 June 2026.

Majhi, who hails from Rayagada district, bagged the title and the top prize of Rs 25,000, scoring eight points out of a possible nine. Tapan Badamundi (Odisha) and Ahanjit Banerjee (West Bengal) finished first and second runner-up with 7.5 and seven points respectively. Badamundi received Rs 15,000 and Banerjee Rs 10,000.

The nine-round open international tournament, offering a total prize fund of Rs 2 lakh, turned out to be an all-India event as no foreign player participated. A total of 149 competitors from different states vied for honours.

Kalahandi ADM Tanmaya Kumar Darwas was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. AOCA secretary Debabrata Bhatta, Marwadi Yuva Manch Jagruti president Rashmi Agarwal, secretary Sikha Agrawal, MYMB president Manish Sharma, secretary Rinku Agarwal, tournament director Bishnu Prasad Agrawal and chief arbiter Abhisek Acharya were present on the occasion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Top three prize winners, guests and organizing officials pose at the closing ceremony of the KCA International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament in Bhawanipatna on 7 June 2026.