SRM, SRCC, Xaviers and Jadavpur in Semis!
In Division 1, SRM-A and SRCC topped the regular 2025 India College Chess Championship (ICCL) Autumn Season with scores of 7/7 and 6/7 respectively. The top-six teams qualified for the Playoffs stage, while SRM A, Xaviers Team A, SRCC, and Jadavpur University made it to the Semifinals of the event.
Standings After Week 7 | Division 1
This report includes several critical moments and surprising tactical moves of key games before presenting the bracket of Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
Interesting Moments
I enjoyed the cute checkmate that happened in the game between Anushka Gupt and Praloy Sahoo. Can you find out how Black won?
There is a great joy in moving a piece to an empty square. Black is winning in many ways, but he found the quickest way to increase the advantage. Can you find it?
The perfect coordination displayed by Black in just a few moves caught my attention. Can you play as accurately as Black from this position?
The next position is a textbook example of a successful tactical blow and White made no mistakes in converting the game.
A lot of coaches advocate the "Drawback Principle" in which the player is supposed to check for the possible drawbacks of the move before making it. Black forgot about the function that his bishop was performing and went after White's pawn on f4. Can you see why that was wrong?
Black played a flawless game to make it the miniature win of the segment. A hanging piece led to a damaged structure and then there was just no way of coming back.
After playing remarkably well, Black reached a point where he just had to see one more variation, but he decided to settle for a draw in a winning position.
The attitude and the character of the player is as important as calculation. White was suffering miserably, but he kept the game going and found his chance to turn the tables.
Here's a puzzle to test your ability to calculate deeply. Black to play
Bracket After Quarterfinals | Division 1
In Division 1, SRM Institute of Science and Technology will face the Xaviers team in one semifinal, while SRCC University will take on Jadavpur University in the other.
In Division 2, St Joseph's College of Engineering will play against BITS Goa, while the IITH Team will face Parul A.
Bracket After Quarterfinals | Division 2
In Division 3, PSGCAS A will face C-Cube in the semifinal clash, while Knightmare is set to take on Chess Kings in the other semifinal.
The battle for the top prizes will continue, and we will bring you updates on the Semifinals and Finals soon. You can go to the event 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. It is a team event starting August 14, 2025, and featuring a $15,000 prize fund.
