LPU

Jalandhar, May 27, 2019: Lovely Professional University (LPU) inaugurated National Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship 2019 at its campus recently. The four-day championship was organized by Jalandhar Chess Association under the aegis of Punjab State Chess Association and the All India Chess Federation.

The University hosted the event which had 112 top players from 23 states of India all set to reveal the best chess-skills in checking their opponents. The list of players included - 7 Grand Masters; 3 Women Grand Masters; 11 International Master; 1 Woman International Master; 6 FIDE Masters. 11 rounds for each were played in both Rapid and Blitz competitions.

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Naresh Sharma, Joint Secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), while inaugurating the national chess event, expressed his enthralling happiness on the management skills of the University. He also appreciated superb arrangements in all means and how smoothly the entire event and championships were held. He shared: “We all are very happy to see the leadership quality in all endeavors made for event arrangements at LPU. Right from a gateman at the entry to other ranks at LPU, all have provided us the nicest possible environ for world-class competition. We are literally impressed and thinking to organize a larger chess tournament at LPU campus, in the near future.”

Welcoming all guests and participants, LPU Additional Director Mr. Aman Mittal quoted ‘Chess’ as a “fantabulous” game, where much of concentration and confidence is required. He also shared: “Whatever LPU undertakes, all at LPU join hands to accomplish that with their hearts. We would even like to host the World Chess Championship and Commonwealth Competitions at LPU.”

Also, present on this occasion were President J&K Chess Association Atul Kumar; Secretary, Punjab State Chess Association, Muneesh Thapar; and, Sr Vice President of Jalandhar Chess Association Rajinder Jee.

According to Chief Arbiter from Pune Shidore Rajendra I A, participating seven Grand Masters at the championship are Sengupta Deep with rating 2487, Arvindh Chithambram (2478), Laxman R R (2429), Sri Ram Jha (2401), Thipsay Praveen (2325), Neelotpal Das (2312), and Visakh NR (2268); and, 3 Woman Grand Masters are Kulkarni Bhakti (2318), Swati Ghate (2227) and Meenakshi Subbaraman (2093).

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One of the promising chess players from Jalandhar, merely seven years old, Amaira Mittal was very happy that such a high-ranked chess championship is being held. She also shared: “Playing along with so many Grandmasters has bestowed great confidence in me, and this participation means much to me.”  She is a student of St Joseph Convent Girls School and had a rating of 1087 in the event.