PANJIM: Goa will host its 1st Goa International Open Grandmaster Chess tournament from October 13 to 20, at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Bambolim.
Goa’s first major chess event, a one of a kind, already has 23 Grandmasters registered till date, who will battle it out for the A category (ratings 2000 and above) title along with 22 International masters with over 140 players vying for the title in the elite category.
The A category will have prizes worth Rs 14 lakhs. Meanwhile, Cat B received 165 entries and Cat C received received 130 entries with 435 entries in total.
The State Chess Association has made it even more easier for the aspiring participants providing them free lodging and boarding which has been covered under their registration fee. The registration fee for Cat A is Rs 7,000 while its Rs 5,000 for Cat B (ratings 1999 and below) and Cat C (rating 1599 and below).
Ukrainian Grandmaster Martyn Kravtsiv (2654 ratings), who earlier competed at the FIDE World Cup in 2013 is a top rated player in the lot followed by Russia’s Popov Ivan (2609), the winner of 2015 European Rapid Chess Championship in Minsk.
The State first major chess tournament after hosting the World Junior Chess Championship in December 2002 and other National chess championship will see participants from 20 different countries.
“We are happy to host the 1st Chess GrandMasters in Goa and I’m proud of the Goa Chess Association for getting this event in our State. Such competitions will help our aspiring chess players to get international exposure and learn from such level of competition,” said Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar.
Goa Chess Association President Nilesh Cabral ensured and showed readiness to host the first major championship in Goa. “We are prepared for this event as our organising committee has ensured all arraignments for the tournament. We are now just await for the participants to enrol and to begin with the championship,” said Cabral.
The last date for enties is October 2 for all the category. “We have been receiving entries and with just 10 days to go to close the registrations we hope there will be more players joining our event. The interested players should register their entries on our website www.gmgoa.com,” added Krishor Bandekar.
