PANJIM: It has been 15 days since the lockdown and the entire sporting events have come to a halt, with none knowing when exactly they will get to resume their activities. However, after successfully hosting their two State blitz chess tournament, the Queens Chess & Cultural Club has finally found a way to keep the chess players actively involved with the sport as they have gone a step ahead in hosting an all-India online blitz chess.
Goa Chess Association’s Secretary Kishor Bandekar, who also happens to be the All India Chess Federation’s Treasurer was happy with the initiative of the online chess and said, “When India is in lock down we connected our players on an online event all over with a message that our chess players are equipped to fight in any situation and we all are set in fight against our dreaded enemy to show world that we are all set for victory with confidence and positive approach.”
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Queens Club and Cultural Club, an affiliated chess body of the Goa Chess Association has been involved actively with chess and this will their second online tournament but has been structured in a unique way that will draw maximum participants.
“Our Arbiter International Arbiter Anand Babu informs us that this tournament is unique in terms of low entry fees and a good prize money. We also did not keep it open for grandmasters and international masters so that more players at the intermediate level are encouraged to participate during the lockdown period. This has created a lot of interest at the national level and though there are other tournaments being organised, our tournament is looked out for by most players,” explained the President of Queen Chess & Cultural Club Dr Roopa Belurkar.
Well, Belurkar was honest enough in thanking the dynamic duo —GCA President and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and GCA Secretary Kishor Bandekar for encouraging their club in organising such tournaments. “Our President Nilesh Cabral and Secretary Kishor are the two major motivating force. When we came up with the idea both encouraged us to go ahead. They said that they will give us any help required. Kishor Bandekar also participated in the 1st online blitz chess tournament. We are obliged to both of them,” added Belurkar thanking them for their motivation and encouragement.
Queens CCC also added that all the logistical support for the tournament comes from the association. “Kishor Bandekar in the initial stages talked to International Arbiter Anand Babu and helped to put this tournament on track. In his daily musings on our chess group he encourages players to participate and make the tournament a success. So in very many ways, Association has helped us.”
This tournament is for the players below rank of GM and IM while the club is expecting minimum of 200 players as they have already received more than 50 entries so far which will commence on April 10.
“Most players register with one day to spare or sometimes with two hours to spare,” added Belurkar.
Monitoring a small scale tournament was always going to be easy, but when asked about how they would tackle and keep a check on huge participation, Belurkar stated,
“Any scale of tournament the complexities remain the same. The only difference is that for the national tournament, more players register so the time taken for registration is more. Our chief arbiter International Arbiter Anand Babu is doing a great job in this regard. In all tournaments there are two dummy players who check the engine games which helps in anti-cheating policies if any player uses the engine while playing online games.”
