Ahmedabad: Tejas Bakre, Gujarat’s first grandmaster (GM) in Chess, inaugurated the AICFB West Zone Chess Championship 2026 for the blind chess at the Blind People’s Association (BPA) on Thursday.A total of 110 chess players participated from Gujarat and other states in the west zone, said organisers.They added that the top players from the event will be sent to national tournaments.Several ranked players participated in the event. Bakre lauded the development of chess for the blind in the state and said that the wins at international stage and state govt support in form of jobs has given much-needed visibility to the sport and has encouraged a generation of players to take it up as a viable option.