Checkmate @ Crimson: Indian Chess School Makes Its First Move into Corporate Chess
Checkmate @ Crimson: Indian Chess School Makes Its First Move into Corporate Chess
Indian Chess School (ICS) marked a new milestone on 1 October 2026 by conducting its first corporate chess tournament, “Checkmate @ Crimson,” at Crimson Interactive.
The event welcomed 22 employees and six children, bringing together colleagues and their families through a shared enjoyment of chess. It also marked the beginning of ICS’s foray into organising chess tournaments for the corporate workforce, drawing on its extensive experience in chess training and tournament management.
From Intern to Chief Arbiter: A Special Homecoming
Leading the event was Prisha Kapadia, Chief Operating Officer of Indian Chess School, who represented ICS as the Chief Arbiter and took responsibility for organising and conducting the tournament.
For Prisha, the occasion had a special personal connection. Just a year earlier, she had spent two months at Crimson Interactive as an intern. Returning to the same organisation to lead its corporate chess event made this milestone particularly memorable.
Her responsibilities included explaining the rules, monitoring multiple boards, ensuring fair play, coordinating arrangements and keeping the tournament moving smoothly. She also captured moments from the event, documenting this new chapter in the ICS journey.
We warmly appreciate Prisha’s initiative, commitment and leadership in bringing this event to life.
Chess for Colleagues and Their Children
One of the most rewarding aspects of “Checkmate @ Crimson” was seeing chess become a meeting point for colleagues and their families.
Employees took a break from their usual work to challenge one another over the board, while the children’s participation added a family dimension to the occasion. Together, the 28 participants made this first corporate event especially memorable.
The evening concluded with felicitations, and Participation Certificates were awarded to all employees and children who took part.
Employees’ Section: Final Standings
The employees’ tournament concluded after five rounds, with Allan Fernandes securing first place with a perfect score of five points.
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Allan Fernandes | 5 |
| 2nd | Anish Barve | 4½ |
| 3rd | Aryan Pawar | 4 |
| 4th | Ronak Sonigra | 3½ |
| 5th | Nabeel Ansari | 3 |
Best Female: Vaishnavi Sawardekar — 3 points.
View the complete employees’ final standings on Chess-Results.
Children’s Section: Final Standings
Ronak Agrawal took first place in the children’s section, followed by Ram Mittal and Zayden Bharucha.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1st | Ronak Agrawal |
| 2nd | Ram Mittal |
| 3rd | Zayden Bharucha |
| 4th | Veerr Mittal |
| 5th | Arna Mittal |
| 6th | Annika Kapadia |
Congratulations to the leading players in both sections and to every participant for their enthusiasm for chess.
Taking Chess into the Corporate World
With this first event, Indian Chess School is opening a new avenue for companies seeking engaging activities for their employees and families.
Chess offers a natural setting to practise planning, concentration and decision-making while enjoying a competitive game. A workplace tournament also gives colleagues an opportunity to connect through a shared interest.
ICS aims to bring its expertise to corporate chess events—from planning suitable formats and coordinating arrangements to conducting pairings, explaining rules and providing professional officiating. Events can be planned around an organisation’s schedule and the playing experience of its participants, with opportunities to include employees’ children.
Our goal is to help companies create enjoyable, professionally conducted chess tournaments that employees and their families look forward to participating in.
Our Thanks to Crimson Interactive
We sincerely thank Crimson Interactive and the People of Crimson team, with special appreciation to Moushmi Maradia, for inviting Indian Chess School, welcoming chess into the workplace and trusting us to conduct the event.
We thank all the employees and children who participated in this memorable first corporate tournament.
Our appreciation also extends to the ICS team—Swayam Ubale, Babli Gupta and Kailash Patil—for their support, and to Prisha Kapadia for leading this milestone event.
“Checkmate @ Crimson” is our first move in a promising new journey. We look forward to bringing chess to more workplaces and creating many more such experiences.
Bring Chess to Your Workplace
Connect with Indian Chess School to explore a chess tournament for your employees and their families.
Prisha Kapadia, Chief Operating Officer: +91 93729 75330
Email: prafulzaveri@indianchessschool.com
Website: www.indianchessschool.com
