ISB Hosts Bahrain’s Largest School-Level Chess Event
The ISB@75 Chess Championship, organised to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of The Indian School Bahrain (ISB), commenced yesterday with great enthusiasm and wide participation. The prestigious two-day event is being held at the Jashanmal Auditorium, Isa Town Campus, under the patronage of the Bahrain Chess Federation and in collaboration with Arjun’s Chess Academy (ACA).
The Chief Guest for the evening was Bahrain Chess Federation President Anmar Ibrahim Ahmadi. Also gracing the occasion were ISB Hon. Chairman Adv. Binu Mannil Varughese, Hon. Vice-Chairman and Member- HSSE & Sports Dr Mohammed Faizal, Hon. Member–Transport Mohammad Nayaz Ullah, Principal VR Palaniswamy, ISB Platinum Jubilee General Convener Prince S. Natarajan, Senior School & Academic Administration Vice-Principal G. Satheesh, Arjun Chess Academy (ACA) CEO Arjun Kakkadath, Staff Representative Parvathi Devadas, Physical Education teachers, and esteemed community leaders. Adv. Binu Mannil Varughese presented memento to the Chief Guest Anmar Ibrahim Ahmadi.
The event began with Free Chess Workshop open to all students and chess enthusiasts. The workshop was conducted by expert coach Janelle Dela Cerna. The interactive session introduced participants to chess fundamentals, the cognitive benefits of the game, and strategies for fostering chess learning at home, making it valuable for both beginners and seasoned players.
With nearly 250 participants and 60 school teams registered, the ISB@75 Championship is poised to be one of the largest chess tournaments ever hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The competitive segment began this morning with the Interschool Team Chess Championship. Schools are competing in two categories – Under 12 and Under 19 – with the flexibility to field multiple four-member teams. Matches are being conducted as per FIDE Rapid Rules, following the Swiss League format. Trophies and certificates will be awarded to the top three teams in each category.
The day’s events continued with the Open Rapid Chess Tournament, open to players of all ages. Prizes will be distributed across multiple categories, with special honours for the top 10 performers. All matches are conducted in accordance with FIDE regulations. The grand finale is scheduled for 8:00 pm today.
Hon. Chairman Adv. Binu Mannil Varughese, Hon. Secretary V. Rajapandian, Hon. Vice-Chairman Dr Mohammed Faizal, EC members, Principal VR Palaniswamy, and Jubilee General Convener Prince S Natarajan extended a warm invitation to students, parents, and chess enthusiasts across Bahrain to attend and witness this prestigious celebration of strategy and intellect.
This championship aims to foster intellectual development through chess while honouring ISB’s 75 years of commitment to academic excellence.
Posted on 22 June 2025