Shakya Singha Modak clear first at Tata Steel Chess Festival 2026 Under-19 Rapid

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/01/2026

Shakya Singha Modak scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win Tata Steel Chess Festival 2026 Under-19 Rapid. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Four players - WFM Saparya Ghosh, Aahil Patra, Somiddho Rajbanshi and Archit Mohapatra scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second to fifth place according to tie-breaks. The two-day nine-round Under-19 Rapid tournament was organized by Dhanuka Dhunseri Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, West Bengal on 10th and 11th January 2026. The total prize fund was ₹51000 + trophies. Top three prizes in Open and Girls were ₹10000 + trophy, ₹6000 and ₹4000 each respectively. This was Shakya's first tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Shakya's first triumph of the year

Five players - CM Sarbartho Mani, Aahil Patra, WFM Saparya Ghosh, Swapnabha Neogi and Shakya Singha Modak were the leaders 7/8, heading into the final round. The reigning Tripura State Under-13, Sub-Junior, and Junior 2025 champion, Shakya defeated Swapnabha to become a clear champion. Aahil drew against Saparya and the latter finished second overall, while the former third. Saparya won the first prize in Girl's category. Raima Bhattacharjee and Kathakali Dey scored 7/9 and 6.5/9 each respectively to receive second and third prize in Girls' category.

Champion - Shakya Singha Modak 8/9

Since 2022, one of the perks of winning the tournament is, receiving the prize on the final day of the main event - Tata Steel Chess India 2026 Rapid and Blitz. Getting the prize in front of star-studded world-class players is an added bonus apart from the usual cash and trophy prize. No wonder, every year, the festival events reach its capacity in no time once it is announced.

Interview with Shakya Singha Modak | Video: ChessBase India

Shakya Singha Modak received the prize on the final day | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Runner-up - WFM Saparya Ghosh 7.5/9

WFM Saparya Ghosh scored 7.5/9 to finish second overall. However, she received first prize in Girls category.

Second Runner-up - Aahil Patra 7.5/9

4th Somiddho Rajbanshi 7.5/9

5th Archit Mahapatra 7.5/9

6th CM Sarbartho Mani 7/9

7th Oishik Mondal 7/9

8th Swapnabha Neogi 7/9

9th CM Sankalan Shah 7/9

10th Avighna Das 7/9

Overall 11th and Girls 2nd Raima Bhattacharjee 7/9

Overall 12th and Girls 3rd Kathakali Dey 6.5/9

Mr. A K Verma, AICF Events Head of Operations, made the ceremonial first move on Aahil Patra and Saparya Ghosh's board before the start of Round 9

4-year-old Adrit Sadhu generally stood on his chair and played as he is very young

The top three boards in action during Round 9

The tournament hall at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, West Bengal

Trophies for the prize winners

The champions of Tata Steel Chess Festival 2026 (L to R): WFM Bristy Mukherjee (Women Rapid), Soham Bhattacharyya (Rapid Rating Open), Shakya Singha Modak (Under-19 Rapid) and Anustoop Biswas (Blitz Open)

Arbiters' team with GM Dibyendu Barua, Tournament Director

For more photos, click here.

Video Gallery

Sarbartho Mani - Somiddho Rajbanshi, Round 5 | Video: ChessBase India

Final moments: Shakya Singha Modak - Swapnabha Neogi, Round 9 | Video: ChessBase India

Aahil Patra - WFM Saparya Ghosh, Round 9 | Video: ChessBase India

A total of 240 players took part from various parts of the country. The two-day nine round Under-19 Rapid tournament was organized by Dhanuka Dhunseri Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, West Bengal on 10th and 11th January 2026. The time control of the event was 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	7		Shakya Singha Modak			IND	1775	Tripura	8	49	53	46,75
2	3	WFM	Saparya Ghosh		w	IND	1881	West Bengal	7,5	51,5	56,5	45,75
3	8		Aahil Patra			IND	1730	WB	7,5	51,5	55	44,25
4	13		Somiddho Rajbanshi			IND	1665	West Bengal	7,5	49	51	40,75
5	28	AFM	Archit Mohapatra			IND	1546	West Bengal	7,5	45	48	38
6	2	CM	Sarbartho Mani	U10		IND	1887	West Bengal	7	55	58,5	43,5
7	6		Oishik Mondal	U12		IND	1782	West Bengal	7	53	56,5	41,75
8	5	AIM	Swapnabha Neogi			IND	1783	West Bengal	7	51	56	40,5
9	1	CM	Sankalan Shah			IND	2004	Westbengal	7	48,5	52,5	38,5
10	12	AFM	Avighna Das			IND	1667	West Bengal	7	48	51	37,5
11	109		Raima Bhattacharjee		w	IND	1435	West Bengal	7	45	48	36
12	73		Kathakali Dey		w	IND	1481		6,5	52,5	56	38
13	16		Khushal Bagri	U12		IND	1609	West Bengal	6,5	51	54,5	37
14	4		Rangeet Majumdar			IND	1864	West Bengal	6,5	50,5	54,5	36,75
15	24	AFM	Arohan Dey			IND	1555	West Bengal	6,5	48,5	51,5	34,75
16	56	ACM	Srinika Ghosh		w	IND	1496	West Bengal	6,5	47	51	33,75
17	10		Debapriya Manna		w	IND	1687		6,5	45	49,5	34,25
18	41	ACM	Writogyan Sarkar			IND	1522	West Bengal	6,5	45	48	30,75
19	25		Sashreek Kundu			IND	1555		6,5	44,5	48	32,75
20	19		Arushjit Kumar Kayal	U12		IND	1592	West Bengal	6,5	44,5	47	32,75