In the recently held SOG Grandmasters Series Championship, Rakesh Kumar from Rishikesh has secured the title of Indian Rummy Grandmaster for the North & East Zone. Kumar’s remarkable achievement was celebrated at a special city ceremony, in the presence of Rishikesh Mayor Shambhu Paswan.
The event was also graced by distinguished guests, including Gaurav Dhyanchand- Tournament Director, SOG Grandmasters Series, President of the Dhyanchand Foundation, and the grandson of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and former Air Force officer and hockey player D.P. Raturi.
The SOG Grandmasters Series, organised by the Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF), drew over 1,50,000 participants from across India, making it one of the largest skill-based gaming events in the country. The two-day championship, hosted at the Hyatt Regency, Gurugram from April 29 to 30, featured elite competitions in chess, chess for the blind, and rummy, spotlighting India’s rising talent in mind sports.
SOGF is proud to celebrate Rakesh Kumar’s success, which not only brings honour to the region but also inspires a new generation of players to pursue excellence in mind sports.
The SOG Grandmasters Series is recognised for its innovative “phygital” approach, blending physical and digital formats to make mind sports more accessible and inclusive. The championship reflects a broader movement to elevate skill-based games into recognised, competitive disciplines, with India’s sports industry projected to reach $130 billion by 2030.
The initiative was started by Adv. Nandan Jha, Founder of SOGF, with their tech platform partner Rummy Culture.
