Youngsters pitted their wits against each other on the 64-square board at The Hindu In School Chess Competition 2016, which got underway at Shrimati Indira Gandhi College in the city on Saturday.
Well before the start of the first round, the R.V. Auditorium at the college was bustling with activity. The excitement among the youngsters was palpable as many of them were busy trying out moves on the chess board, while some were honing their skills on the tablets. And a few were busy getting doubts clarified from their coaches.
The two-day competition, conducted in association with the Tiruchi District Chess Association, is being held in three categories – Sub-juniors (Up to standards IV), Juniors (standards V to VIII), and Seniors (standards IX to XII).
It has attracted 310 players – 39 in the sub-junior category, 204 in the junior category, and 67 in the senior category – from Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Karur, and Cuddalore districts.
“Since the tournament is conducted by The Hindu , we are sure that the standard of the competition will be high and it will be a good experience for our students,” said N. Tamilselvi, a national chess arbiter, and treasurer of the Cuddalore Chess Academy, who was accompanying nine students from the academy.
Ms. Tamilselvi said the academy had arranged special training sessions for the students taking part in the tournament and sounded confident that they would come out with flying colours.
Meanwhile, city boy S. Akilesh Viswaa, who has won medals at the international-level and aims to become a Grand Master, is confident of putting up a good show in the tournament.
“I expect the competition to be tough. I will certainly give my best,” said Viswaa, a class VIII student of Cauvery Global School here.
FIDE Arbiter B. Dhenagaran said it would be an eight-round tournament in all the three categories.
“There will be four rounds each on Saturday and Sunday. The response has been very good and all the three categories feature FIDE-rated players,” added Mr. Dhenagaran, who was the chief arbiter for the tournament.
Earlier, the competition was inaugurated by N. Parthasarathy, Cluster Head, Axis Bank, Tiruchi.
The event is presented by Thyrocare. Shrimati Indira Gandhi College is the venue partner.
