Over 500 schools to take part in Maharashtra chess tournament

Students from over 500 schools across the state would take part in the Mahavir Prasad Morarka Memorial Maharashtra State School Chess Championship beginning here from November 14.

The five-day championship, featuring over 1,000 students, is being jointly organised by The South Mumbai Chess Academy (SMCA) and Indian Chess School at the Nehru Centre in Worli, it was announced at a media conference Saturday.

"The competition will serve as the selection trail for the National School Chess Championship that will be held in Darjeeling in April next year," said tournament director Praful Zaveri.

The championship would be conducted for boys and girls in the Under-6, Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 categories and the total prize money on offer is Rs 72,000.

In addition, the top 10 players in each category would be awarded medals.

Matches would be played according to the FIDE laws over nine rounds in each category in the Swiss League format.

According to SMCA Chief Executive Officer Durga Nagesh Guttula, Ayaansh Shah, aged three years and 11 months, is the youngest entrant in the tournament.

The tournament is being held under the auspices of the Mumbai City District Chess Association.

Meanwhile, it was also announced that the fourth edition of the IIFL Mumbai International Chess Tournament would be held in December at the World Trade Centre in South Mumbai.