Port Blair, Aug 16: The 2nd All India Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, currently underway in Port Blair at Hotel TSG Grand Dolly Gunj, witnessed an exhilarating start to its second half today with Round 5. Organized by the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA) under the aegis of the All-India Chess Federation (AICF) and powered by TCI, the event has drawn around 150 chess players from across India, including participants from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
After four intense rounds, eight players are tied for the lead with a perfect score. In a surprising twist, top seed Mr. Tata Rao, P of Andaman and Mr. Manna, Chiranjit of West Bengal were defeated by Mr. Ganesan K, of Tamil Nadu and Mr. Surya, also of Tamil Nadu, respectively. With the competition heating up, round 5 will see the leaders facing off in what promises to be a decisive clash.
The second half of the tournament was jointly inaugurated by Dr. Omkar Singh, former Director of Health Services, and Mr. Avinash Singh, Superintending Engineer, Port Blair Municipal Council, in the presence of Chief Arbiter IA Dinesh and ANCA officials. The dignitaries made the ceremonial first move on the top boards, extending their best wishes to all participants.
As the tournament progresses, the excitement and competitive spirit continue to build as players from across the nation, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, compete for victory. The event will culminate on 18th August with a prize distribution ceremony, where a total cash award of rupee one lakh fifteen thousand will be distributed among the top ten players.
