NE Chess tourney begins at Paljor Stadium

AROUND 200 PARTICIPANTS FROM 8 NE STATES PARTICIPATING

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 04 Jan: Around 200 participants from eight north-eastern states will be taking part in the 5th edition of North East FIDE Rating Chess Tournament, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by the Sports Secretary, Karma P Bhutia, at Paljor Stadium indoor gymnasium on Thursday.

The tournament is being organized by the Sikkim Chess Association [SCA] in collaboration with AICF and co-sponsored by SDF Bhawan Trust and Roads and Bridges Department. The state contingent will have around 80 participants in the tournament.
Speaking to NOW! SCA general secretary, Mahindra Dhakal informed that the tournament will feature some big names like last year’s champion Apollo Sana from Manipur, and Saini Das of Tripura, who recently won a bronze medal at the Asian School Championship held at New Delhi.
The tournament also has 7-year-old, Khyller Mc Enbok from Meghalaya as the Youngest FIDE Rating [1344] participant, and 76-year-old, TB Ghimirey from Sikkim as the Oldest Participant in the tournament.
The tournament has International arbiter, Dharmendra Singh, national arbiter, Lakhya Jyoti from Assam, along with Mr Dhakal, who is also an International arbiter from Sikkim. The organizers have arranged 200 chess boards for the tournament.
Mr Dhakal expressed his deep happiness and satisfaction on getting the opportunity to host this prestigious tournament in the state in the short span of the SCA’s formation.