The completion of the SOG Grandmasters Series West Zone Final in Mumbai marks a significant step toward making the city a hub for mind sports in India. The event saw enthusiastic participation, not only from competitors but also from the Maharashtra state government, highlighting the growing importance of these intellectual competitions. Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra Government, graced the occasion as the chief guest, praising the initiative for pushing the boundaries of intellectual competition and ushering in a new era for mind sports in India.
The tournament witnessed a massive response, with over 1,50,000 registrations from the West Zone across the three disciplines of the series, which included Chess, Rummy, and Blind Chess, showcasing the tremendous interest in mind sports across the region. The event saw exceptional performances, with 12 finalists being awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship of ₹60,000 per year, recognizing their outstanding achievements and encouraging further excellence in mind sports.
The prestigious event, organized by the SOG Federation (SOGF) under the guidance of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), showcased some of the best minds in Chess, Rummy, and Blind Chess, captivating both participants and spectators alike. The first leg of the series had been held in Bengaluru, but the West Zone Final brought Mumbai into the spotlight, creating the perfect stage for the growing field of mind sports.
Shri Ashish Shelar emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “This event is a great step forward in encouraging mind sports in India. It will inspire many young minds to excel not just in physical sports but also in intellectual challenges, which are equally important in today’s competitive world.”
Advocate Nandan Jha, Founder of the SOG Federation and the first Indian President of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), as well as the first Indian president of any international umbrella body of nine sports federations with 200 member countries, expressed his excitement about the event, saying, “Today, India is at the forefront of mind sports, and hosting the final is a monumental event for our federation and for the entire country. We are thrilled to celebrate the success of Grandmaster Koneru Humpy. We are proud that India is becoming a global leader in mind sports and look forward to developing more mind games, just as other countries have.”
Prasad Mahankar, National Organizational Secretary of the RSS’s sports wing, Krida Bharti, added his best wishes, saying, “My best wishes to Mr. Nandan Jha, who ideated such a series, which is essential to take established esports like Chess to new heights. These activities may also introduce ancient mind sports like Chaupar and Chaturanga to the younger generation, which will help India cement its position in the realm of mind sports.”
Koneru Humpy, the Brand Ambassador for the SOG Grandmasters Series, shared her pride in being part of this transformative movement, adding, “It’s an honor to be part of such a remarkable initiative. Mind sports have the power to shape a new generation of champions who will excel not only in sports but in all aspects of life.”
Ajinkya Rahane, the Brand Ambassador for the West Zone Final, remarked, “Mind games are not just limited to any one sport. In cricket, for example, it’s essential to have control over your mind. I’m truly honored to be here and to support this new form of competition.”
Also gracing the event were distinguished personalities from various fields, including Shyam Jajoo, Former National Vice President of BJP, Raj K Purohit, Former Minister of Maharashtra, Shankar Aggarwal, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Urban Development and President of SOGF, Gulshan Rai, Former Cybersecurity Advisor to the PMO and Chairman of the Cyber Committee of SOGF, Gursharan Singh, Former Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of India and Secretary General of SOGF, Ashok Dhyanchand, Olympic medalist and Vice President of SOGF, Geoffrey Borg, CEO of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), Ajay Kumar Verma, CEO of the Chess Federation of India, Indian Grandmasters Pravin Thipsay and Abhijit Kunte, and Angad Bedi, renowned film actor.
The finals are scheduled to take place in Delhi later this year, after the successful completion of the grand series for the North Zone, East Zone, and South Zone 2 regions.
With the SOG Grandmasters Series West Zone Final setting new benchmarks, the series continues to elevate mind sports and solidify disciplines like Chess, Rummy, and Blind Chess on the global stage. As anticipation grows, this event is paving the way for the future of competitive mind sports in India and beyond.