Parul University Becomes 1st University from Gujarat to Win West Zone Inter-University Chess Championship

Parul University, Vadodara, has become the first university from Gujarat to win the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship (Men). The university’s chess team secured 1st position at the AIU‑recognised tournament, which concluded at HSNC University, Mumbai, in March 2026.

The event, officially listed as the “West Zone Inter‑University Chess (Men) Tournament 2025–26”, was organised under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and brought together 81 universities from Western India. Parul University finished on top of the final team‑ranking table, ahead of Marwadi University (runnersup), University of Mumbai (third), and Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune (fourth).

Historic Win for Gujarat

According to official tournament results published on chess‑results.com and coverage by HSNC University and Parul University, this is the first time a university based in Gujarat has claimed the top spot in the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship.

Parul University’s team average rating is listed at 1,870 points on the chess‑results.com leaderboard, with strong performances across individual boards. Social‑media posts by Parul University confirm the milestone: “With this achievement, we become the first university from Gujarat to claim the top spot at the West Zone Inter‑University Chess Championship.”

Tournament Details

• Organiser: Association of Indian Universities (AIU), hosted by HSNC University, Mumbai.
• Format: 9‑round Swiss system, open to men’s university teams from Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and nearby states.
• Top finishers:
• 1st – Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
• 2nd – Marwadi University, Gujarat
• 3rd – University of Mumbai
• 4th – Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune

Why This Win Matters

Parul University’s victory highlights:

• Growing strength of chess in Gujarat’s higher‑education institutions.
• Increased visibility for non‑Metro Indian universities in national‑level AIU sports events, alongside traditional centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata.

The team’s 1st‑place finish in the West Zone also qualifies Parul University for future AIU‑governed inter‑university championships, where top‑ranked Indian institutes, including some IITs and central universities, regularly participate in chess and other sports.

For the latest standings and AIU‑linked university‑chess updates, readers can refer to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) website and chess‑results live‑score pages