On Sunday, Kolkata saw a unique chess tournament on the ground floor of Acropolis Mall at Kasba. More than 80 students from several schools took part in the tournament, which was jointly organised by Bengal Chess Association and Acropolis Mall, to make the game more popular across social and economic classes.
The tournament saw the participation of students from schools like Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, St Xavier’s Collegiate School, Calcutta Boys’ School, Calcutta International School, Don Bosco, Modern High School for Girls, DPS Howrah, Calcutta International School, Adamas International, Don Bosco Liluah, Ariadaha Kalachand High School, Garden High School, Pratt Memorial School, Tirthapati Institution and several others.
A total of 80 students took part in the tournament from different city schools
After six rounds, Samrat Sutar from Tirthapati Institution with 5.5 points, Samanaway Pal from Ariadaha Kalachand High School with 5 points and Rihansh Pandey from Calcutta International School with 5 points won the top three places respectively in the individual category.
The best school prizes were won by Lakshimipat Singhania Academy, St Xavier’s Collegiate School and Calcutta Boys’ School. Additionally, a total of 37 trophies were presented to deserving winners.
Atanu Lahiri, Commonwealth gold medallist and CEO of Bengal Chess Association, said the tournament had six rounds and was a Fide Swiss League. Each of the rounds took place for half an hour. “All the 80 students played six rounds and based on their performance in each round, the winners were chosen. The sole objective of this tournament is to popularise the sports. At present, India is doing very well in chess. But the participation is limited to a certain economic class. We want players from all classes and categories,” Lahiri said.
Not just the parents, several passers-by stopped to watch the chess matches being played at the mall
Proving Lahiri true, Samujjal Guha, a 10-year-old participant, said he had been associated with chess for over eight months and this was his first tournament. “I have won one match but I am happy to be a part of it. Probably next year, I would perform even better,” he said. Puja Saini, a Ballygunge-based banker, spent the entire Sunday afternoon at the mall eagerly watching her son playing. “My eight-year-old son Harsh Saini started playing chess about a year ago and participating in these kinds of tournaments would mature him as a player. He would gain more confidence,” Saini.
Meanwhile, Nisha Mohota, the first woman Grandmaster from West Bengal, reached the venue to cheer for the participants. “I have never seen such a tournament taking place in a Kolkata mall. I have seen this in Mumbai but not here. This can be a very good opportunity for the participants,” said Mohota.
A group of winners from ‘Top School’ category receive award from Atanu Lahiri
At the end, the prize distribution ceremony took place. Acropolis Mall general manager K. Vijayan said: “Chess enriches our cognitive thinking and enhances our focus and concentration. We partnered with the Bengal Chess Association to kindle a passion for chess among children promoting their mental acumen. In an era where virtual engagement is prevalent, witnessing children engrossed in chess brings us immense satisfaction. We express gratitude to Bengal Chess Association for this collaboration and our support for such an initiative will endure.”
