There were no major upsets on first day after as seeded players sailed through in the first two rounds of Maharashtra State Under 13 Open & Girls FIDE Rating Selection Chess Championship 2022 organised by Chess Association Nagpur in association with G.H. Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation which coomenced at G H Raisoni Institute of Engineering & Technology College, Shraddha park ,Near MIDC Police Station, Hingna- Wadi Link Road Nagpur.
The Championship was inaugurated by Chief Guest and Arjuna & Dronacharya Awardee Sports Icon of Nagpur City Shri Vijay Munishwar jointly with Guest of Honour Shri Hemant Gandhi, Hon Secretary, Vidarbha Cricket Association by playing moves on Chess Board with each other at the Inauguration Function held on 2nd October 2022. Dr. Mrunal Naik, Project Head, Raisoni Group and Shri Amit Gandhare, PRO, Raisoni Group were prominently present on the occasion. Adv. Nishant Gandhi, President, Chess Association, Nagpur welcomed the Chief Guest Shri Munishwar whereas Guest of Honour Shri Hemant Gandhi was welcomed by Shri Bhushan Shriwas, Secretary, Chess Association Nagpur & Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation. The programme was compered by Shri S.S.Soman who introduced the guests and also proposed vote of thanks.
The Championship is being held from 2nd to 4th October 2022 under the Aegis of Maharashtra Chess Association and All India Chess Federation and is a FIDE Rating Chess Championship. The Championship has attracted 155 participants (85 FIDE Rated) in Open Group and 65 participants (27 FIDE Rated) in Girls Group from all over the Districts of Maharashtra. Total Prizes amounting to Rs. 25000/- are at stake beside attractive Trophies and Medals. Being a FIDE Rating event there is Golden Opportunity for unrated players to become International Rated players. Overwhelmed with the huge response, the organisers have decided to give additional 3 trophies each for Best Under-11, Best Under-9 and Best Under-7 players who finish beyond main prize list in both the groups.
An Organising Committee headed by Adv. Nishant Gandhi, Organising Secretary Shri Bhushan Shriwas, MCA Tournament Committee Member Shri S.S.Soman and Organising Committee Members Shri Prayas Ambade, Shri Prathamesh Machave alongwith the Officials of Chess Association Nagpur, G.H.Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation are working for successful organization of event. Dr. Mrunal Naik, Project Head, Raisoni Group, Dr. Vivek Kapoor, Director, Raisoni Group and Shri Amit Gandhare, PRO, Raisoni Group have extended their co-operation for the event.
IA Ajinkya Pingale will be the Chief Arbiter assisted by Deputy Arbiter IA Deepak Chavan, SNA Amit Tembhurne, SNA Swati Kumbhalkar, SNA Uday Vagere, Sagar Sakhare, Shyam Agrawal, Prayas Ambade, Prathmesh Machave and Deep Jure.