Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (TU/CN)

Mangalore, Nov 26: The 34th national sub-junior and 25th sub-junior girls’ chess championship, jointly organized by the South Kanara District Chess Association (SKDCA) and the All India Chess Federation, was inaugurated at Subrahmanya Sabha on Wednesday November 26. 

Around 250 chess players in the boys’ and girls’ section, including under-14 Asian Champion Fide master Prasanna Rao from Maharashtra, second seed Debasis Das from Orissa, girls’ section defending champion Shalmali Gagare from Maharashtra, under-14 Commonwealth champion Mohan Priya from Tamil Nadu, under-13 national champion Sharanya J from Tamil Nadu, and other international-level prodigies from 20 states, are participating in the event. The tourney will end on Thursday December 4.

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, K Sudhakaran, joint secretary, South Kanara District Chess Association, said that it was for the first time, the live telecast of the national sub-junior chess tourney was being made available on the websites www.karnatakachess.com , www.chessresults.com , and www.monroi.com.

Official entries from each state are four boys and four girls. The all Karnataka Kanara District players are also participating with an intention of supporting, encouraging, and motivating the district and state players. The concession was also available for participants from North Eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep. 

The tournament will be held separately for girls. The top six players from each category will represent India in the Asian and World Youth Chess championships. Earlier, addressing players after inaugurating the event, Sameer Salgaonkar, vice-president, All India Chess Federation, said that a chess revolution is taking place in Karnataka as many activities in the field have been seen in the state in a short span of two years. ‘We have to support emerging players to achieve new heights’, he said. 

Thirunavakkarasu, principal general manager BSNL, and Sucharitha Shetty, president, zilla panchayat, played the inaugural chess moves. The diaries of SKDCA were released by Harikrishna Punaroor, former president, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, while, Achutananda Shetty, president, United Karnataka Chess Association, released the calendar of SKDCA. M R Vasudeva, director, Mangalore International Airport, presided over the function.