National youth chess from today

Vijayawada, March 4: The nine-day National Youth (under-25) chess championship, jointly conducted by Andhra Gymkhana and Champions Chess A...

Vijayawada, March 4: The nine-day National Youth (under-25) chess championship, jointly conducted by Andhra Gymkhana and Champions Chess Academy, featuring upcoming players from all over the country, unfolds at Gymkahana Club from Sunday.

As many as 70 players are expected to participate in the tournament, which is an important fixture of All India Chess Federation, after National B.

Life Insurance Corporation’s International Master-elect Dinesh Kumar Sharma (Elo 2337), Madhya Pradesh’s Manish Joshi (2220), Chennai CAPA Chess Academy’s J Karthik (2173), Chennai T Nagar Chess Academy’s RS Prasanna (2094), AP’s J Ramakrishna (2205), Ch Kesavanada Krishna (2176), M Srinivasa Rao (2186), SK Kashim (2050), LV Siva Kumar (2147), Ch Kavitha (2028), Bihar’s Rahul Agarwal, Orissa’s Satyakam, SR Mishra, Maharashtra’s Gaurav Nangia, Devkaran Bhatti, Kerala’s TL Shaji, GN Gopal, Air Force Sports Control Board’s Guru Rajan, LD Rao are some of the prominent players taking part in the tournament, which will be held in nine rounds with the duration of seven hours.

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“Almost all state associations have confirmed their participation. But they have not released the list of players. All the others are likely land tomorrow morning,” said VR Bobba, chief arbiter of the tournament.

A total prize money of Rs 31,000 is at stake.

This tournament is crucial for LIC’s Dinesh Kumar Sharma, who is inching towards the International Master tag. “Dinesh is rated 2337 and if manages to cross the 2,400 mark, he can achieve the all important IM title,” Bobba said.

The tournament concludes on March 13.