The G.H. Raisoni Chess Festival, featuring Classical, Rapid, and Blitz FIDE Rating Chess Tournaments, was inaugurated by Shri Satish Aney, Chief Engineer of Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. Nagpur. The inauguration ceremony was held at the G.H. Raisoni Institute of Information and Technology, Shraddha Park, Wadi Hingna Link Road, Near MIDC Police Station, Nagpur, at 10:00 AM on June 9, 2024. Shri Vinod Chaturvedi, Hon. Secretary of MIA-CSR Club, Nagpur, was the Guest of Honour. Shri Girish Vyas, Ex-MLC, Vice President of MCA, and President of the Chess Association Nagpur, presided over the function.
Dr. Mrunal Naik, Director (Projects) of Raisoni Group, Dr. Vivek Kapoor, Director of Raisoni Group, IA Ajinkya Pingale, Chief Arbiter, renowned chess coach IM Anwesh Upadhyaya, and Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Secretary and Secretary of CAN, were prominently present on the occasion. The event was officially inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri Satish Aney by making a move on the chessboard against the Guest of Honour Shri Vinod Chaturvedi, who responded.
The tournament is being organised by the G.H. Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation jointly with the Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation and is recognised by the Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, All India Chess Federation, and FIDE. Shri S.S. Soman conducted the programme and proposed the vote of thanks.
The first event of the Chess Festival is the 17th G.H. Raisoni Memorial International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament, which is being played from June 9 to 14, 2024. This Classical event, played over 11 rounds, has attracted 277 entries, including 151 FIDE-rated players competing for the top prize of Rs. 51,000/-.
IA Ajinkya Pingale is the Chief Arbiter of the event, assisted by FA Sonal Tambi, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharti Dhote, SNA Sham Agrawal, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Prayas Ambade, Prathamesh Machave, and Shishir Indurkar.
Photo: Chief Guest Shri Satish Aney and Guest of Honour Shri Vinod Chaturvedi making moves on the chessboard while Shri Girish Vyas, Dr. Mrunal Naik, Dr. Vivek Kapoor, IA Ajinkya Pingale, and Bhushan Shriwas look on.
In the first round played on June 9, 2024, the seeded players sailed through except for fourth seed Kolla Bhavaan of Andhra Pradesh, who was held to a draw by Divyansh Singh Katharria of Madhya Pradesh.