THE 19th GH Raisoni Memorial International FIDE (Rapid) Rating Chess Tournament got underway at GH Raisoni Institute of Information and Technology, Shraddha Park, Wadi on Saturday. In fourth round of the event, top seed FM Vaibhav Raut was held to a draw by Sabir Adnan on top board. Second seed WIM Srishti Pande, third seed Siddhant Gawai and classical event winner 4th seed R Sailesh had won their encounter to reach four points each. The event was inaugurated by Mukul Patil, IRS, Additional Commissioner, Central GST Nagpur by playing a move on the chess board. The tournament is a part of GH Raisoni Chess Festival being organised by GH Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation jointly with Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation and is recognised by the Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, All India Chess Federation and FIDE.

 

Prof Anupam Chaube, Dean, GH Raisoni Skill Tech University was the guest of honour. SS Soman, Organising Committee Member also shared the dais. The event is being played in nine rounds in time control of 15 minute each with an increment of 5 seconds per move. The event has attracted a whopping 565 entries from all over India including 261 FIDE rated players. Seven rounds were played on the opening day while remaining two rounds shall be played on Sunday. Rapid event will be followed by Blitz event to be played on Sunday only. Prize distribution function will follow the events. Apart from cash prizes to top 20 finishers, prizes will also be given to Best Veteran Category, Best Nagpur, Best Female 18+ and Best unrated player.

 

Attractive trophies shall be given to the top finishers in Under-7, 9, 11, 13, 15. The chess festival is being organised with the patronage of GH Raisoni Sports and Welfare Foundation under the able guidance of Sunil Raisoni, Chairman, Raisoni Group, Dr Vivek Kapoor, Vice-Chancellor, GH Raisoni Skill Tech University, Dr Mrinal Naik, Director (Projects) and Amit Gandhare, Director (Public Relations) Raisoni Group. IA Ajinkya Pingle is the Chief Arbiter of the event who is being assisted by Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Shiva Iyer, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharati Dhote, SNA Sham Agrawal, SNA Akash Rewatkar, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Prayas Ambade and SNA Shishir Indurkar, SNA Shrikant Bagde, SNA Aman Sahu, SNA Shital Panbude, SNA Tanvi Kunte, Ninad Warudkar, Shyam Awghad, Milind Marathe and others.