By Fr Allwyn Misquitta SDB for BIS Mumbai

Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, Seawoods West, Navi Mumbai, hosted an Age Category & Open Rapid Chess Tournament on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tournament was organised by Creative Chess Events in association with Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, with the affiliation of the Thane District Chess Association.

The event brought together 193 participants from Mumbai City and the Navi Mumbai Zone, providing young chess enthusiasts and other players an excellent platform to demonstrate their skills, compete in a healthy environment and learn through the game of chess.

The tournament was built around four simple but meaningful objectives: To Play – To Learn – To Compete – To Grow. Chess is not merely a competitive board game; it is an educational activity that encourages concentration, discipline, logical reasoning, strategic thinking, patience and responsible decision-making. Through every move, players learn to think ahead, evaluate possibilities, make choices and accept the consequences of their decisions.

Don Bosco Educational Complex, Navi Mumbai, places emphasis on integral education, where the intellectual, physical, emotional, social, moral and spiritual dimensions of a young person are given importance. Hosting a chess tournament within the educational campus provided students and participants with an opportunity to experience learning beyond the conventional classroom. The tournament reflected the Don Bosco educational approach of creating opportunities where children can learn through experience, interact with others, develop their talents and grow as responsible human beings.

The tournament commenced by invoking the Divine Presence of God through a Universal Prayer led by Fr Allwyn Misquitta SDB, Administrator. The tournament was conducted under the guidance and expertise of experienced chess officials. The enthusiastic participation of 193 participants from Mumbai City and the Navi Mumbai Zone demonstrated the growing interest in chess among children, young people and the wider community. The tournament created a healthy competitive environment where participants could meet fellow chess players, test their skills, learn from their games and develop greater confidence.

The event received very positive feedback from the parents of the participants. Their response encouraged the organisers and the school to continue creating opportunities that promote children's intellectual development, discipline, healthy competition and holistic growth.

Don Bosco Senior Secondary School expresses its sincere gratitude to Creative Chess Events, the Thane District Chess Association, the International Arbiters Ajinkya Pingale and Sandesh Nagarnaik, participating players, parents, volunteers and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of the tournament. Special appreciation goes to the Don Bosco School Support Staff, whose behind-the-scenes service, preparation and coordination helped ensure that the event proceeded smoothly.

The Age Category & Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 was a meaningful educational and sporting initiative. The event successfully brought together competition, learning, discipline, concentration and fellowship. The tournament demonstrated that education extends beyond textbooks and classrooms beautifully reflecting the spirit of integral education at Don Bosco Educational Complex, Navi Mumbai: “Play with concentration, compete with discipline, learn from every move and grow through every experience.”