Vesho Doulo magnificent at Chess for Everyone Rating Open 2026 in Nagaland

12-year-old Vesho Doulo scored a perfect 9/9 to win Chess for Everyone Rating Open 2026 in Nagaland. He won the tournament with a round to spare and finished a whopping 1.5 points ahead of the rest. 11-year-old Ilung Haikam scored 7.5/9 to secure second place. 13-year-old Icicang Haikam scored 7/9 to finish third. The top three prizes were ₹3000, ₹2000 and ₹1500 each.

Vesho’s first tournament triumph of his career

Chess for Everyone is an initiative started by All India Chess Federation. The objective is to have a low barrier for a rating tournament with an entry fee of only ₹250, create opportunities for players to get and gain Elo rating points. This is the second-ever rating tournament in the history of Nagaland. The first one was won by GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury last year.

12-year-old Vesho Doulo won the tournament with one round to spare as he won his eighth consecutive game. 11-year-old Ilung Haikam was trailing him by 1.5 points at 6/8, heading into the last round. Vesho finished the tournament with a victory over Akangzang Haikam to become champion with a 100% score. Ilung defeated Jeremy Nitova Zhimomi to claim second place. Lunghei Haikube lost to 13-year-old Icicang Haikam who was placed third.

Champion – Vesho Doulo 9/9 | Photo: Maciding Doson

Runner-up – Ilung Haikam 7.5/9 | Photo: Maciding Doson

Second Runner-up – Icicang Haikam 7/9 | Photo: Maciding Doson

Vesho Doulo scored a perfect 9/9, won the tournament with one round to spare and gained 74.8 Elo rating points

Players in action | Photo: Maciding Doson

Deputy Chief Arbiter – SNA Mengise Haikam and Chief Arbiter – FA Vekukho Soho | Photo: Maciding Doson

All prize winners | Photo: Maciding Doson

All participants received a chess set each from ‘The Gift of Chess‘ | Photo: Maciding Doson

Thanks to Mr. Maciding Doson, Tournament Director, for sharing photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 39 players took part from various parts of Nagaland. The five-day nine-round Rating Open tournament was organized by Inter School Chess Association – Ngwalwa Circle at Ngwala Village Council Hall in Peren, Nagaland from 10th to 14th February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

Final standings

Details