NATIONAL Under-13 champion Shaunak Badole, clinched both rapid and blitz titles at the GH Raisoni Memorial H2e Power System Maharashtra State FIDE Rating Chess Championship 2026 which concluded at GH Raisoni Institute of Information and Technology, Shraddha Park, Wadi Hingna Link Road, Near MIDC Police Station. The events were organised by Chess Association Nagpur in association with GH Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation recognised by Maharashtra Chess Association, All India Chess Federation and FIDE. These were official selection championships to select Maharashtra chess players for participation in National Rapid Championship 2026 and National Blitz Championship 2026. Shaunak bagged cash prizes of Rs 8000 each for rapid and blitz titles along with glittering trophies. Prizes worth Rs 72,000 (Rs 36,000 for rapid and Rs 36,000 for blitz) were distributed among top winners. In the rapid section, Bodele scored 8.5 points out of nine to annex the title. Nagpur’s FM Siddhant Gawai stood second with eight points. Three players Yuval Sunil Mohurle, Jay Sawalakhe and FM Gaurav Balkiwal scored 7½ points and were placed from 3rd to 5th in final list based on tiebreak scores. In the blitz event, it was Badole all the way as he scored all nine out of nine points. Kushgra Patel, Jay Sawalakhe and Vishwaditya Awasthi, who toppled second seed FM Siddhant Gawai in the last round, scored 7.5 points each and were adjudged 2nd to 4th based on tie-break scores.

 

Prizes were distributed by former athlete and Superintendent, Central GST Shekhar Suryawanshi. Senior national player Jayant Katdare, former executive engineer MSEDCL, who is also a prominent coach was the guest of honour. Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Secretary and Secretary, Chess Association Nagpur; International Arbiter Ajinkya Pingale, Chief Arbiter and SS Soman, MCA Observer, committee members were present on the occasion. Akash Rewatkar read out the names of the winners. In addition to the top 10 cash prizes, trophies were distributed to best veteran category and top finishers in Under-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19 and other age groups. Badole and Gawai in rapid section and Badole and Kushagra Paliwal in blitz section were selected to represent Maharashtra in the National Rapid and Bltiz Championships to be held later this year. The event was organised under the guidance of Sunil Raisoni, Chairman, Raisoni Group; Girish Vyas, President, Chess Association Nagpur; Dr Vivek Kapoor, Vice-Chancellor, GH Raisoni Skill Tech University, Dr Mrunal Naik, Director (Projects) and Amit Gandhare, Director (Public Relations) Raisoni Group. Pingale was assisted by Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Shiva Iyer, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharati Dhote, FA Swati Kumbhalkar, SNA Prayas Ambade, SNA Shishir Indurkar, SNA Akash Rewatkar, SNA Shrikant Bagde and Prathamesh Machave.