1st Haflong International FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament held

 Haflong, February 8: The 1st Haflong International FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026 was successfully held on Sunday at the NL Daulagupu Sports Stadium in Haflong, Dima Hasao district.
The tournament was organised by the District Sports Office, Dima Hasao, in collaboration with the Dima Hasao Chess Association. A total of 129 players from seven states—Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand—participated in the event. Among them were 25 players from Dima Hasao district and 13 female participants. International Arbiter Dr Charwak officiated as the Chief Arbiter, assisted by Deputy Chief Arbiter Anupam Bhattacharjee.

The tournament was conducted in five categories: Open, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15. The total prize pool of the competition was Rs 1 lakh. The top five players in each category will receive cash prizes along with certificates and trophies.
Speaking on the occasion, Ronit Dey, Secretary of the Dima Hasao Chess Association, said the tournament aimed to provide a competitive platform for chess enthusiasts of the region and encourage young talents to pursue the sport at higher levels.

The event marked a significant step towards promoting chess and nurturing sporting culture in the hill district.Dr. Charkam, who is also HoD of Mass Communication, Assam University elaborated some important points on towards promoting chess and nurturing sporting culture in the hill district.