Pics: Sphoorty Ullal
Media Release
Mangalore, Jul 11: The fourth Mangalore All India Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament conducted by South Kanara District Chess Association (SKDCA) was inaugurated at Subramanya Sabha on Saturday July 10.
Speaking on the occasion deputy mayor of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) Rajendra said that “SKDCA” is providing good platform to chess players of the district and state by conducting a series of tournaments in Mangalore. He also said that MCC will support such tournaments in future also.
MLC Ganesh Karnik , also vice chairman of NRI, in his talk said the district and state is honoured by the premium of players who have come across the country. State will support in all possible ways for the activities of SKDCA, he added.
Mangalore south MLA N Yogish Bhat, Achuthananda Reddy , president of United Karnataka Chess Association, general manager of Karnataka Bank P Jai Ram Hande also spoke on the occasion.
M R Vasudeva, honorary president of SKDCA and airport director of Coimbatore launched the website of SKDCA (www.skdca.sports.officelive.com).
Speaking on the occasion, he said, “SKDCA has created history in organizing four National Open FIDE rated chess tournaments in a row (2007 to 2010). The systematic and disciplined style of conducting tournaments is appreciated by all participants. It has brought glamour to the game in the state, he added.
This is the only tournament in the state history which has attracted highest number of players which is 344. The participation of 3 Grandmasters, 14 International Masters and 6 FIDE Masters has made this a great tourney. Top billing goes to GM R R Laxman of ICF with a rating of 2,503 who recently won gold medal in Commonwealth Chess Championship, followed by five times National Champion from Maharashtra, GM Pravin Tipsay, IM Satyapragyan of Indian Airlines and GM Neelotpal Das of ONGC in the order. Around 236 rated players are among the players which makes the tournament quiet a competitive and the winner gets richer by Rs 60000/ as the first prize alongwith a wonderful trophy.