SRM Is Unstoppable! India College Chess Spring 2026 Week 6
In Division 1, SRM-A is leading the 2026 India College Chess Championship (ICCL) Spring Season with a perfect score after five rounds. They are yet to play another round. Teams SRCC and Jadavpur University A are tied for second place with five wins and one loss.
Standings after Round 6 | Division 1*
*Some games of this division are yet to be played.
This report includes several critical moments and tactical shots of key games before presenting the standings of divisions two and three.
Critical Moments
The bishop is doing an important task of defending the f4-pawn, but Black found a way to disrupt the defence with a stunning rook sacrifice. IM Levy Rozman aka GothamChess would be pleased to see this!
When it comes to tactics, pawnbreaks also have a major role to play. White found a neat breakthrough with a petite combination. Can you also figure it out as White?
Endgames are not just about pawn races or pawn promotions. They are also about checkmates. Here's the proof!
The next position is a textbook example of GM Jacob Aagaard's term "Bring all your toys" on the theme of attack. Can you find the winning continuation as White?
If there is an isolated queen's pawn structure, then something thematic is to be expected. In this example, Black was on the receiving end. White's play could have been flawless; this example is nevertheless worth checking out.
Gifts are best received when they are unexpected, aren't they? Something similar happened in this game where White won earlier than expected.
You may have come across videos online titled “Chess is brutal.” And in many ways, that description fits perfectly. In chess, you might play ninety-nine excellent moves and hold the position together brilliantly. But if the hundredth move turns out to be a blunder, the entire game can suddenly slip away. Something very similar happened in this game.
The shortest game of the week featured a deadly pin. Take a look at the variation I’ve included as well, which highlights a trap built around the same theme.
If there is a will to win, miracles happen. This endgame brought a smile to my face and I'm very likely to remember this for a long time.
Standings After Round 6 | Division 2
In division two, Jadavpur University is leading with 5 points. Zugzwang Warriors have already played their seventh round.
Standings After Round 6 | Division 3
In Division 3, DG Vaishnav College 2.0 is leading with five points.
The battle for the top prizes will continue, and we will bring you updates on the next set of rounds soon. You can go to the event's page to follow all the games, results, playing schedule, and more.
The India College Chess Championship is the premier online chess competition for college students in India. This team event started on January 22, 2026, and features a $15,000 prize fund.
