The 17th KIIT International Chess Festival-2026 has been officially inaugurated in Bhubaneswar with a record prize pool of Rs 1.31 crore. Over 4,000 participants from 40 countries, including 25 Grandmasters and 50 International Masters, are competing. KIIT founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta inaugurated the event, emphasizing the university's commitment to developing chess. Additionally, IM Aronyak Ghosh won the FIDE-rated Blitz competition held on campus. https://sambad.in/sports/kiit-international-chess-festival-2026-inaugurated-in-bhubaneswar-11870160 #creator program