KIIT & KISS: Elevating Chess in Odisha

Recognizing the need for exposure to global competition, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT, KISS & KIMS, envisioned an international chess fixture over 15 years ago. This vision materialized into the KIIT International Chess Festival, first held in 2010. The tournament quickly gained prominence and is now regarded as one of Asia’s top four Grandmaster Chess Tournaments.

Rakesh Thapliyal

Bhubaneshwar:KIIT and KISS have made significant contributions to the promotion and development of chess in Odisha. Their dedicated efforts have helped nurture numerous chess talents and popularize chess in Odisha. A key achievement of KIIT has been the nurturing of more than 46 international chess players, including Odisha’s only two Grandmasters, Debasis Das and Swayams Mishra. KISS is also the first school in India to integrate chess into its academic curriculum.

Recognizing the need for exposure to global competition, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT, KISS & KIMS, envisioned an international chess fixture over 15 years ago.

Dr Achyuta Samanta

This vision materialized into the KIIT International Chess Festival, first held in 2010. The tournament quickly gained prominence and is now regarded as one of Asia’s top four Grandmaster Chess Tournaments.

Organized annually by KIIT in collaboration with the All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA), the festival attracts world-class players, including grandmasters and emerging young talents. The 2023 edition featured a total prize fund of ₹32 lakh. In addition to this annual event, KIIT has proudly hosted prestigious tournaments such as the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship (2016), the Asian Cities Chess Championship (2018), and the India-China Chess Summit (2018).

KIIT has also created the Viswanathan Anand International Chess Hall, a prestigious venue dedicated to the promotion and celebration of chess. Named after the legendary Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, this venue has hosted several major international chess events. KIIT’s remarkable contribution to chess has earned it institutional membership from the All India Chess Federation (AICF)—the first and only university in India to receive this honor.