Port Blair, July 19: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof Jagdish Mukhi gave away prizes to the winners and runners up of the 26th National Youth Under- 25 Chess Championship held at JNRM auditorium today. International Master Kumar Shyaamnikhil P from Tamil Nadu emerged winner of the championship. Shyaam won the title and championship overtaking Mitrabha Guha of West Bengal in the tie-breaker. The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association, under the aegis of All India Chess Federation (AICF) hosted the event for the first time in these Islands. The PBMC Chairperson, Shri B Eswar Rao and senior officers of the A&N Administration were also present on the occasion. Port Blair, July 19: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof Jagdish Mukhi gave away prizes to the winners and runners up of the 26th National Youth Under- 25 Chess Championship held at JNRM auditorium today. International Master Kumar Shyaamnikhil P from Tamil Nadu emerged winner of the championship. Shyaam won the title and championship overtaking Mitrabha Guha of West Bengal in the tie-breaker. The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association, under the aegis of All India Chess Federation (AICF) hosted the event for the first time in these Islands. The PBMC Chairperson, Shri B Eswar Rao and senior officers of the A&N Administration were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest of the valedictory function, the Lt Governor lauded the President ANCA and other members for efficiently conducting the National Chess Championship at Port Blair. “It was a great occasion not only for the ANCA but also for the entire Islands to organize the championship and host master chess players from mainland”, the Lt Governor observed.
The Lt Governor further stated that the game of chess is believed to have originated in India about 1400 years ago and spread to various places in the world. Often chess is known as the game of intellectuals, the Lt Governor said, adding that chess is a great game for the development of mind and also helps achieve better concentration.
Mentioning that for the first time a national level chess championship was organized in the Isles, the Lt Governor said, with the development of the game here in the Isles, more participants will get attracted to it. He said that the record participation of 122 players from different parts of the Country in these Islands could be possible also due to good venue and environment here, attracting more players. He said the efforts of ANCA will certainly motivate the young talents and the youth of these Islands will also get attracted towards this sport.
Addressing the young players from mainland, the Lt Governor enlightened them about the A&N Islands, its natural beauty, people and tourism. The Lt Governor stated that these Islands are known as Mini India as people from different parts of the country live here with perfect peace and harmony. The A&N Islands is the live example of secularism, said the Lt Governor, adding that the ‘Swatch Bharath Mission’, launched by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji has been adopted well and cleanliness is maintained all over the Islands. Under the Tourism Sector, water sports activities have been added and new water sports will be made available. Mentioning that the Administration accords priority to Tourism Development in the Isles, the Lt Governor said that tourist arrival in the year 2016 stood at 4 lakh mark in comparison to 3 lakh tourists visiting the Islands in the year 2015. It is expected that the tourist flow will touch 5 lakh mark in 2017, he added. The increase in the arrival of tourists is due to the affordable air tariff in Chennai- Port Blair and Delhi Port Blair sectors. The Administration has devised a two year tourism development plan which will bring a sea change in the development of Tourism in these Islands, the Lt Governor added. He also urged the visiting players to act as Ambassadors for tourism promotion of A&N Islands. The President, Andaman Nicobar Chess Association, Shri G. Bhasker informed that for the first time in these Islands a national level Chess Championship was organized in which a total of 122 players from 17 states and UTs participated. He also acknowledged the contributions of Shri H Dinesh and late Mohan Rao in the development of chess in the Islands.
In his report, the Chief Arbiter of the Championship Shri R.R Vasudevan from Tamil Nadu stated that the tournament was conducted in a transparent manner and it was the first FIDE championship ever organized in A&N Islands.
Shri Neeraj Saripalli, a player from Goa showered all praise on the organizers for the effective conduct of the tournament providing all comfort to the players in these remote Islands.
In the chess championship nearly Rs 3 lakh was kept as prize money. Kumar Shyaamnikhil P from Tamil Nadu got Rs 50,000 as first prize, Mitrabha Guha of West Bengal got Rs 30,000, Grahesh Y of Andhra Pradesh got Rs 20,000, Mohite Ranveer of Maharashtra got Rs 16,000 and Badrinath S of Pondicherry got Rs 14,000. Apart from this, 20 players received cash prizes ranging from Rs 12,000 to minimum upto Rs 5000. Three best players of A&N Islands Kumar Dhan Raju, Vishal Kanna and Sai Sagar got Rs 5000, 3000 and 2000 respectively. Shri Abhijit Agarwal, Vice President ANCA who moderated the function, also proposed the vote of thanks.
