Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 25: St Agnes School (CBSE), transformed into the epicentre of intellect and competition as it hosted the prestigious AICS Dakshina Kannada Interschool Chess Tournament 2025–26 under the banner AGNOX – The Ultimate Chess Arena on August 23.
The inaugural ceremony at the Mother Mary Centenary block auditorium opened with grandeur and grace, setting in motion a day that stood as a true congregation of young talent, celebrating brilliance, precision, and the unyielding spirit of competition.
The inaugural began with a stately entry of dignitaries led by the school band and escorted by the student cabinet, setting a dignified tone for the day’s proceedings.
The procession included the president of the programme, Sr Dr Maria Roopa AC, joint secretary of St Agnes Institutions; the chief guest, Derick Pinto, International Chess Player and director of Derik’s Chess School; the guest of honour, Naveen D’Souza, corporator of Bendore Ward, Mangaluru City Corporation; the principal, Sr Maria Sarika AC; and the PTA vice president, Advocate Liston D’Souza.
The inaugural was graced not only by the dignitaries but also by dedicated coaches, enthusiastic participants, and well-wishers, whose presence added warmth and significance to the occasion.
With the gathering thus assembled in an atmosphere of anticipation and reverence, the programme commenced with a prayer song that invited everyone to begin in gratitude and reflection. This was followed by a vibrant welcome dance, offering a warm cultural prelude to the competition.
The welcome address was delivered by co-ordinator, Sr Lavi Shanthi, who extended greetings to dignitaries, coaches, and participants and framed the day as a celebration of strategy and excellence. As part of the welcome, the guests were felicitated with potted blossoms, a gesture symbolising respect, warmth, and the school’s commitment to tradition.
The inauguration unfolded with a touch of grandeur as the dignitaries executed the ceremonial first move on a giant chessboard, a symbolic gesture that heralded the beginning of the championship.
Following the inauguration, the guest of honour, Naveen D’Souza, commended the school for hosting the tournament, highlighting chess as a game that sharpens intellect and strategy, and wished all participants the very best. Building on this encouragement, the chief guest, Derick Pinto, shared his inspiring message.
He expressed his delight at the participation of 73 teams in the championship and congratulated the players. Referring to the present era of artificial intelligence and rapid global progress, he remarked that chess remains a profound test of human intellect. He concluded by encouraging the participants to play well and extended his best wishes.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Tr Divya Nayak, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries for their gracious presence, and to all those whose support and efforts made the commencement of the tournament both memorable and meaningful. With the formalities of the inauguration complete, the focus shifted to the heart of the day as competition rounds unfolded across the campus with an air of intensity and anticipation.
This year’s tournament witnessed overwhelming participation with 37 schools competing across two categories—under-14 and under-17. A total of 73 teams battled it out, with 36 teams in the under-14 category (matches held in block 2) and 37 teams in the under-17 category (matches held in block 1).
The indoor tournament provided a platform for budding minds to display their talent and test their skills in the royal game of chess. The halls resonated with quiet tension punctuated by the occasional ripple of triumph, making the atmosphere truly electrifying. The championship was officiated with precision by the arbiters’ panel- Koushik Rao, Urmila A, Ranjitha, Chandrashekhar, Ananya, and Abhinaya whose impeccable judgment and keen oversight ensured fairness, discipline, and the smooth conduct of each match.
The valedictory ceremony, held in the evening, reflected gratitude and recognition. It opened with a symbolic welcome steeped in meaning, as the cabinet students presented each dignitary with a crystal as a symbol of brilliance and purity— to the chief guest Sr Dr Venessa AC, principal of St Agnes College; to the guest of honour, Prasanna Rao Boloor, co-founder of Derik’s Chess School; to Advocate Liston Derrick Dsouza, the PTA vice president.
The proceedings began with a soulful prayer dance, setting a reverent and auspicious tone for the ceremony. This was followed by a warm welcome delivered by Tr Lavina, who also had the honour of introducing the chief guest. A floral token of appreciation was then presented to all the dignitaries, symbolizing respect and gratitude.
The chief guest, Sr Dr Venessa AC, in her address, highlighted that success rests on strength, patience, and right decisions, and just as in chess, these qualities, when carried into life, help one play the larger game with wisdom and courage. She emphasised that education, as Mother Aloysia envisioned, is not just about passing exams but about preparing for life, and at St Agnes it means moulding students with values. Congratulating the winners, she urged all to step forward with courage, clarity, and character, stressing that the true prize lies not in victory but in the person, one becomes along the way.
The most awaited moment of the ceremony arrived with the commencement of the prize distribution. The honours were jointly conferred by the chief guest, Sr Dr Venessa AC, along with the guest of honour, Prasanna Rao Boloor, Sr Dr Maria Roopa AC, advocate Liston Derrick D’Souza, and principal Sr Maria Sarika AC. Their gracious presence on stage infused the occasion with dignity, while their collective gesture of awarding the winners, runners-up, and achievers transformed each recognition into a memorable symbol of encouragement and pride.
Tr Reena delivered the vote of thanks, placing on record the institution’s appreciation to the dignitaries, arbiters, team managers, participants, and volunteers.
Prizes were instituted in both categories with school trophies and five individual trophies for each placement tier winners, runners-up, first runners-up, and second runners-up along with board prizes (five each in under-14 and under-17).
Under-14
First place: Lourdes Central School
Second place: St Theresa's School
Third place: Podar International School
Fourth place: Sharada Vidyalaya
Under-17
First place: Lourdes Central School
Second place: Sharada Vidyalaya
Third place: Mount Carmel Central School
Fourth place: Delhi Public School MRPL
Board prizes
Under-14 (5):
Aarush Bhat - Sharada Vidyalaya
Aayiu Athendrya Shetty - Lourdes Central School
A Aadhvika- Lourdes Central School
Rizelle Alida D’Souza - St Theresa's School
Mark Blasius D’Souza - St Aloysius Gonzaga School
Under-17 (5):
Rajeev Rudra - Lourdes Central School
U P Advaith - Lourdes Central School
Bhattacharyya Aradya - Sharada Vidyalaya
Mallya Shriyanas - Lourdes Central School
Sonam - Loretto Eng Med High School
The programme was masterfully compered by Tr Josphen and Tr Nisha, alongside students Leanne Sarah Rego, Risha Mayola Crasta, Abigail Mikayla D’Souza, Meghan Veigas, and Haleema Riza, while the evening session was ably hosted by Swajitha, Rushda, Coral Rosario, and Fathima Alisha, ensuring a smooth flow of events.
As the curtains drew on the day, AGNOX 2025–26 emerged as a refined celebration of intellect and resilience. The day-long event stood as a testimony to the commitment of St Agnes School towards promoting intellectual pursuits, discipline, and sportsmanship among students. Living up to its title as The Ultimate Chess Arena, AGNOX 2025–26 etched an indelible mark of excellence in the annals of interschool competitions, inspiring many more such gatherings in the years to come