♟️ About Serials Chess Club

Serials Chess Club is a competitive chess organizer in Ponda, Goa, India. Together with Serials Chess Academy, the club connects organized tournaments with regular chess coaching and junior-player development. Its programme includes school-age competitions, local rapid events, classical practice sessions and rated tournaments that attract players from across Goa. The club maintains an active tournament schedule in the Ponda area. The club has organized more than twenty chess tournaments, while the associated academy provides structured training for beginners and developing competitive players. The club encourages participants to test their skills at the board, gain confidence with time controls and learn the practical demands of event play. Beyond formal championships, Serials Chess Club has arranged recreational and instructional tournaments. Its activities therefore serve players at several stages: children learning tournament rules, experienced students seeking stronger opponents and adults who want regular local competition. Moreover, the academy’s coaching programme includes practical calculation and tournament preparation.

🏆 Tournament Experience

In April 2026, the club organized an All Goa Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament in cooperation with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, GVM’s Chess in School and the Ponda Taluka Chess Association. The rapid competition featured nine rounds and drew 254 participants, while the blitz competition attracted 232 participants. The club also ran a July 2026 Ponda Taluka rapid tournament with 144 players over eight rounds. During September 2026, Serials Chess Club organized two simultaneous practice events: a classical competition for rated players and a rapid event for unrated participants. The combined programme drew around 190 participants. These smaller and larger formats illustrate its regular commitment to local competitive chess.

🌍 First FIDE-Rated Open in December 2026

The 1st SCC All India FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 is scheduled for December 12–13 at Ravi Naik Sports Complex in Ponda. The event is being organized in association with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs of the Government of Goa and the Ponda Taluka Chess Association, under the auspices of Goa Chess Association and the All India Chess Federation. The tournament has nine Swiss-system rounds with 25 minutes plus a five-second increment. Its awards comprise ₹200,000 in cash prizes and 128 trophies, along with participation medals for eligible junior players. The first-place open prize is ₹40,000 plus a trophy.

👥 Coaching and Officials

Deepesh Priolkar is tournament director for the December 2026 event and the club's secretary. Anish Naik, a FIDE Arbiter, leads the academy's coaching programme and is Chief Arbiter of the December competition. Anushka Naik, also a FIDE Arbiter, is a deputy arbiter for this event. By connecting training, community-level competitions and federation-rated events, the club helps build a practical pathway for Goa’s developing chess players.