The west zone finals of the inaugural Skillhub Online Games (SOG) Grandmasters Series concluded in Mumbai on Tuesday (March 5, 2025) with Akshita Jain, Jval Saurin Patel, Darpan Inani and Tanaji Gargote emerging as winners in their respective categories. (More Sports News)
Akshita won the Indian Chess Masters (ICM) women category, while Swera Bragance and Dnyanada Unmesh Gujarathi clinched silver and bronze medals respectively. Mohammed Nubairshah Shaik and Wagh Suyog stood second and third behind Patel in the ICM men라이브 바카라 section.
Inani topped the ICM for the Blind, while Aryan B Joshi and Kakade Atul earned silver and bronze respectively. Gargote won the gold in Indian Rummy Grandmasters, while Manish Shahre and Mangesh Machhi took the second and third positions.
Akshita, Patel, Inani, and Gargote have now secured spots in the national finals, set to take place in New Delhi later this year.
The two-day event that concluded on Tuesday saw 12 finalists being awarded Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship of INR 60,000 per year. The SOG Grandmasters Series aims to promote mind sports and e-sports through structured competitive formats.
The first phase featured events at district, zonal, and national levels. The action now shifts to the north and east zonal and south zone, culminating in the SOG Grandmasters national finals in New Delhi.
Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane, the West Zone brand ambassador, and GM Koneru Humpy, the tournament's brand ambassador, were among the dignitaries present at the felicitation ceremony of the West Zone finals.
Reflecting on the event라이브 바카라 success, Humpy stated, “The SOG Grandmasters Series is a game-changer for mind sports in India. It is heartening to see such enthusiasm among young players, and I am proud to be associated with an initiative that nurtures skill-based gaming at such a grand scale with Chess being at the forefront.”
Rahane chimed in: “Mind sports require discipline, patience, and strategy—qualities that are essential for any athlete and for playing any sport. Witnessing the passion and commitment of these competitors especially in Blind Chess was an eye opener at the West Zone Finals.”
Shankar Aggarwal, president, Skillhub Online Games Federation, emphasized the event라이브 바카라 broader impact, saying: “With stalwarts like Koneru Humpy and Ajinkya Rahane backing the series, mind sports in India are receiving the recognition they truly deserve. We are thrilled by the response and look forward to elevating this platform further.”
