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Journalism of Courage
Chennai, August 6: Chess is going through a wonderful phase in India. With tournaments aplenty, Indians have more opportunities to enhance their skills. After a gap of four years, Chennai will witness a closed GM event. The Pentamedia Grandmaster chess tournament, organised by All India Chess Federation and Sports Promotion Foundation from August 13 to 27 at Pentamedia Graphics Complex, Kelambakkam.
Ummer Koya, Fide vice-president, addressing the pressmen on Saturday, called “Chennai, the Mecca of Indian chess”. He added: “The tournament gives good opportunity for Indians to get a GM norm.”
Evegeny Vladimirov of Kazakhstan will be the top seed in the category XI tournament. The Grandmaster had a super showing in Wipro GM at Hyderabad where the rest of the players were fighting for second place. He is currently coaching India’s Olympiad teams at Kozhikode. With a rating close to 2600, he wished to end the Indian sojourn on a winning note.
The other foreign GMs are Alexander Fominyh (Russia), who has not lost a game in three Indian tournaments recently. The Uzbek GM Saidali Yuldachev is not new to India, having participated in Goodricke.
International Masters Ghaem Maghami Eshan (Iran), who has one GM norm and Reefat Bin Sattar (Bangladesh) complete the international flavour.
The Indian GM-trio of Krishnan Sasikiran, Abhijit Kunte and Dibyendu Barua should be among the contenders for top placings.
DV Prasad, GB Prakash and Sandipan Chanda, who have one GM norm will be hoping for another. P Harikrishna, who has a GM rating (2500) and SS Ganguly (Elo 2498) will be eager to test their skills here.
The tournament will have 12 rounds and the GM norm will be eight points. The first prize will be $2000.
The added attraction will be the 13-round Fide rating tournament at the same venue. The tournament starts on August 13 with a first prize of Rs 8000.
All the six games will be displayed on computers outside the hall. Two of the top games will be shown on big screens live. Doordarshan will give live coverage with commentaries from IMs Manuel Aaron and Sudhakar Babu.
The inauguration is slated for Aug 13 (4.15 p.m.). The first round starts on Aug 14 (9 a.m.). Chess aficionados should have an enjoyable August.
Participants: Abhijit Kunte (GM, Ind, 2556), K Sasikiran (GM, Ind, 2573), D Barua (GM, Ind, 2502), SS Ganguly (IM, Ind, 2498), DV Prasad (GM, Ind, 2431), P Harikrishna (IM, Ind, 2500), Sandipan Chanda (IM, Ind, 2446), GB Prakash (IM, Ind, 2429), Alexander Fominyh (GM, Rus, 2594), Evegeny Vladimirov (GM, Kaz, 2598), Reefat Bin Sattar (IM, Ban, 2467), Ghaem Maghami Ehsan (IM, Ira, 2488) and Saidali Yuldachev (GM, Uzb, 2515).
