Jamshedpur: In a proud moment for Jharkhand, International Arbiter (IA) Vishal Kumar Minz from Jamshedpur has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Arbiter for the National Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship 2025-26. The appointment was formalized through an official letter issued by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) on February 17, 2026.
The prestigious national tournament is scheduled to take place in Jharkhand from March 11 to March 13, 2026. Sarla Birla University, Ranchi, is the proposed venue for this event, which will see top rapid and blitz players from across the country competing for titles, rating points, and significant prize money.
The AICF Supervisory Panel
The official panel announced by the AICF includes:
- Chief Arbiter: IA Ifarme P.
- Deputy Chief Arbiters: IA Vishal Kumar Minz and IA Juily Kulkarni.
- Live Arbiter: FA Aditi Shrivastava.
- Fairplay (Male): IA Anupam Bhattacharya.
- Fairplay (Female): IA Poornima Uplavikar.
Profile of IA Vishal Kumar Minz
Born in 1994, Vishal Kumar Minz achieved the title of FIDE Arbiter (FA) in 2019 and was upgraded to International Arbiter (IA) in 2023 (FIDE ID: 46693378). Beyond officiating, he is an internationally rated player and a certified AICF instructor.
His distinguished career includes serving as a Match Arbiter at the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai (2022). He has also officiated at the Tata Steel Asian Junior Girls Chess Championship and the Asian Junior Girls Rapid & Blitz Championship (2023). Since 2018, he has provided his expertise in over 30 FIDE-rated tournaments.
At the national level, his experience spans several major events, including the National Junior U-19 Championship (2025), the 36th National U-9 Championship (2023), and the Tata Steel All India Specially Abled Chess Tournament (2024).
Congratulations from the Chess Community
Prominent figures from the chess fraternity, including Manish Kumar (Secretary, AJCA), Manoj Kumar (President, SKDCA), Ajay Kumar (Secretary, SKDCA), and N.K. Tiwary (Secretary, ESDCA), extended their heartfelt congratulations. Ajay Kumar noted that this appointment is a testament to Vishal’s dedication, discipline, and vast experience, bringing great honor to the state of Jharkhand.
