Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chess in Goa will take a huge leap as Goa Chess Association (GCA) has decided to organise their 1st Goa International Open Grand Master Tournament which will be held between October and December.
“I am glad that GCA has agreed for the tournament in the State and we are expecting 1000 to 1200 players in the tournament from various countries,” All India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said.
The tournament will give an opportunity to local players and achieve GM norms”, he said.
Bharat informed that the there is a remarkable rise in Grand Master.
In 2005 we had 10 Grand Masters but now we have around 51 and our ranking at the World Chess Federation is 5th out of 206 countries. We are one of the top most chess playing nation and highest number of rated chess player.
The growth is really good and the same way Goa has come up.
“Last year Goa had a Grand Master and it is not easy to organise the same. Having a Grand Master shows that the State has been doing very well in Chess,” he added.
Bharat further requested the government to add chess into the National Games.
“Goa being a host for National Games has two additional games and I request the Government to add chess as the State has been doing very well in chess,” he said.
The tournament will be held in three categories namely Grand Master, below 2000 rating and below 1600 rating.
“Idea of organising in different categories is to give opportunity to all section of players”, Bharat informed.
Bharat was satisfied with the stadiums at Mapusa and Taleigao.
