Bilaspur, March 14: The Coal India Inter-Company Chess Tournament 2025–26, hosted by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), concluded successfully on Saturday at Vasant Club in SECL’s Vasant Vihar Township, Bilaspur.
Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) emerged as the champion of the tournament, while the host team South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) secured the runner-up position. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) finished third.
Shri N. Franklin Jayakumar, Director (Technical/Operations), SECL, attended the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was also attended by Shri Biranchi Das, Director (Human Resources); Shri D. Sunil Kumar, Director (Finance); Shri Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer; and Shri Ramesh Chandra Mahapatra, Director (Technical – Planning/Projects), along with representatives of various trade unions and senior officials of the company.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Jayakumar said that sporting events like chess tournaments provide a platform for healthy competition and help strengthen camaraderie, teamwork and mutual understanding among employees of Coal India’s subsidiary companies. He appreciated the discipline, enthusiasm and sportsmanship displayed by the participants.
During the ceremony, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries felicitated the winning and runner-up teams.
The three-day tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from teams representing all eight subsidiary companies of Coal India, along with players from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Participants displayed a high level of concentration, strategic thinking and competitive spirit throughout the competition.
