Hailed by Kapil Dev and world chess champion Koneru Humpy, SOGF Grandmasters Series sets new benchmarks in Mind Sports
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
The Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF) Grandmasters Series Championship concluded in Gurugram late Wednesday evening at an electrifying closing ceremony graced by Legendary Indian Cricketer Kapil Dev and World Rapid Chess Champion Koneru Humpy , who praised the growing prominence of mind sports in India, as per a release from the SOGF.Drawing registrations from over 1,50,000 participants nationwide, the two-day event brought together elite talent in chess, blind chess, and rummy, marking a significant milestone in the country's skill-based gaming landscape.Held from April 29 to 30 at Hyatt Regency, Gurugram, the tournament culminated in fierce yet friendly competition, with Mitrabha Guha, Shubhi Gupta, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Satya and Rakesh Kumar emerging as winners in their respective categories. Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam and Kapil Dev gave away the prizes.Here are the names of the top three winners in each category: In the Indian Chess Masters (ICM) competition, the winners in the men's category were Mitrabha Guha (Winner), Namitbir Singh Walia (1st Runner-Up), and Gopal Krishna Maheshwari (2nd Runner-Up). In the Indian Chess Masters (ICM), in the women's category, the winners were Shubhi Gupta (Winner), Sachi Jain (1st Runner Up), and Diya Chowdhury (2nd Runner Up).For the Indian Chess Masters for Blind (ICMB), winners from the East Zone were Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (Winner), Shougata Chowdhury (1st Runner Up), Patra Subhendu Kumar (2nd Runner Up) and winners from the North Zone were Satya (Winner), Soumendra (1st Runner-Up), and Mayenk(2nd Runner-Up).For the Indian Rummy Grandmaster - North & East Zone, the winners were Rakesh Kumar (Winner), Sachin (1st Runner Up) and Ravi Kumar (2nd Runner Up).Celebrating the event's success, India's legendary cricketer Kapil Dev emphasised the importance of traditional Indian games in boosting mental agility, stating, "Games like chess and rummy aren't just entertainment--they're cognitive exercises that enhance memory, reduce stress, and build resilience."Koneru Humpy, ranked No. 5 globally, echoed optimism about India's trajectory in global chess. "We are witnessing a golden era," she said. "With world champion Gukesh and others in the top 10, India's future in chess is brighter than ever."The event was honoured by the presence of several esteemed dignitaries, including Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, Wrestling guru Satpal Singh, Hockey Legend Ashok Dhyanchand, and Geoffrey Borg (CEO, International Mind Sports Association), reflecting the event's widespread acclaim and national significance.Nandan Kumar Jha, Founder of SOGF, highlighted the broader vision: "This championship is a testament to India's rising interest in mind sports. Driven by Gen Z and fueled by digital transformation, esports in India has seen a 733% rise in players and a 108% growth in teams from 2020 to 2023. At SOGF, we aim to formalise and promote these games as serious, skill-based disciplines."The SOGF Grandmasters Series blends physical and digital ("phygital") formats to ensure accessibility, equity, and national recognition. With India's sports market projected to reach $130 billion by 2030, SOGF's initiatives are helping shape a future where cognitive excellence is celebrated alongside physical prowess.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Indian men eye comeback against Netherlands in FIH Pro League
The Indian men's hockey team will look to bounce back from its narrow defeat in the opener when it takes on The Netherlands in the European leg of the FIH Pro League here on Monday. India squandered a one goal lead to lose 1-2 to Olympic champions Netherlands in the first match on Saturday. The Indian side showed promise in the early phases of the first half, with captain Harmanpreet Singh converting a penalty corner to give his side the lead. The Dutch side, however, made a strong comeback and ultimately emerged victorious courtesy of a brace from Thijs van Dam, which included the winning goal in the 58th minute. With seven games left to play in the competition, India currently stand fourth in the points table with 15 points. 'We did well in the first half but the third quarter wasn't as good. In the fourth quarter we did well again and were winning the ball, but we weren't getting any shots on goal. 'It was unfortunate to lose like that because I thought we could push for a draw. We want to push ourselves as hard as we can, especially against a team like the Netherlands,' India head coach Craig Fulton said after the match. With next year's World Cup spot up for grabs, India will aim to do well in the remaining matches and gain maximum points against challenging opponents. India played the home leg of the Pro League in Bhubaneswar earlier this year, when it amassed 15 points with five wins in eight games.
India.com
33 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet Indian Cricketer Who Cleared UPSC, Played With Legends Like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Now A Government officer, He Is...
photoDetails english 2912848 Updated:Jun 08, 2025, 01:30 PM IST Amay Khurasiya: Cricketer Who Cracked UPSC 1 / 10 Before making his international debut for India, Amay Khurasiya achieved the rare feat of clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination a first for any Indian international cricketer. Early Beginnings in Jabalpur 2 / 10 Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Amay Khurasiya began his cricketing journey at the young age of 17, debuting in domestic first-class cricket. Choosing Cricket Over Civil Services 3 / 10 Despite clearing one of India's toughest exams, Khurasiya chose to follow his passion for cricket, giving up a potential career in civil services. India Debut in 1999 Pepsi Cup 4 / 10 Amay made his international debut for India in 1999 during the Pepsi Cup against Sri Lanka, joining the national team during a golden era. Brief ODI Career 5 / 10 He represented India in 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 149 runs. Though short-lived, his stint with Team India was significant. Sharing the Dressing Room with Legends 6 / 10 During his time in the Indian squad, Amay Khurasiya played alongside cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag. Rare Blend of Brain and Bat 7 / 10 Amay's UPSC success reflects his sharp intellect, making him one of the rare Indian sportspersons to have excelled in both academics and athletics. Life After Cricket 8 / 10 Post-retirement from professional cricket, Amay transitioned into government service, currently working as an Inspector in the Indian Customs & Central Excise Department. Mentor for Future Stars 9 / 10 Amay Khurasiya trains and mentors young cricketers, particularly those aspiring to break into the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the national team. True Inspiration for Aspirants 10 / 10 His journey serves as an inspiring story for both UPSC aspirants and young cricketers proving that discipline, passion, and commitment can lead to success in any field.
NDTV
37 minutes ago
- NDTV
Rinku Singh, Priya Saroj Engagement: Couple's First Picture From Ceremony Out
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed Indian cricketer Rinku Singh got engaged to politician Priya Saroj in Lucknow, attended by family and notable guests. Priya's father confirmed initial talks about their relationship. The first picture of the couple from the ceremony is out. Indian cricketer Rinku Singh takes a big personal step today as he officially gets engaged to politician Priya Saroj in a ceremony in Lucknow. Other than the family members of the couple, some high-profile guests from the world of cricket and politics are expected to attend the ceremony today. Rinku, who plays for the Indian team in the T20I format and Kolkata Knight Riders, couldn't escape the shutterbugs' focus on his special day. The couple's first picture together from the ceremony is already out. Priya's father Tufani Saroj spoke to media ahead of the start of the engagement ceremony. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: On the engagement of cricketer Rinku Singh and SP MP Priya Saroj, SP MLA and father of Priya Saroj, Tufani Saroj says, "Today is the engagement ceremony, and we are gathered here for the same. We are very happy that Priya Saroj's engagement is taking place… — IANS (@ians_india) June 8, 2025 A few months ago, Priya's father had made the relationship status of the two clear. Tufani, who's also a sitting MLA from the Samajwadi Party, spoke to ANI and said that both Rinku Singh and Priya Saroj sought their parents' permission. He also confirmed that the engagement has not taken place yet, and only the initial talks have taken place. "Both the children have expressed their desire to get married and have sought our permission for the same. The engagement has not taken place yet. Initial talks have taken place in this regard," Tufani Saroj had told ANI. Rinku had quite an ordinary IPL 2025 campaign with KKR, scoring 206 runs at an average of 29.42 and a strike-rate of 153.73. The Knight Riders had a forgettable season that saw them finish eighth in the table with 12 points and a net run rate of -0.305, winning just 5 out of 14 matches. Rinku is also an important member of India's T20I side. In 30 T20I matches and 22 innings, Rinku has scored 507 runs at an average of 46.09 and a strike rate of 165.14, with three half-centuries. He's yet to smash his maiden T20I century. The 27-year-old made his T20I debut against Ireland in 2023. Rinku has featured in two ODIs for India and holds pretty impressive List-A numbers. The southpaw has garnered 1,899 runs in 52 innings, averaging 48.69 while striking at 94.8. His excellent numbers include one hundred and 17 half-centuries.
