51 countries participate in World Junior Chess Championship in Pune

Over 200 players from 51 countries have converged in Pune to take part in World Junior Chess Championship.

Winners of the championship, which will conclude on October 20, will be honoured with grandmaster titles and grandmaster norms. Participants from various countries including China and Russia are in the competition.

Chairman of Maharashtra Chess Association Ravindra Dongre said that the junior championship is one of the most important chess events of the World Chess Federation.

"It has attended 51 countries, it's a record by itself. All the continents of the world are participating. So in a sense, the entire world is participating. Players from Africa, Australia, Asia, America, all the continents are here. This championship will help propagate the game in a much bigger way in Maharashtra and in India," said Dongre.

He further said that it will generate greater interest in chess among the budding players.

The World Junior Chess Championship is the first step for a young player towards other major chess tournaments and championships. India's number one and grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and Norway's grandmaster and current number one Magnus Carlsen, all started from the junior level.