Manipal: Dr TMA Pai Memorial FIDE Rated Chess tournament oragnised by Manipal University was inaugurated by K Annamalai, Superintend of Police, at Dr TMA Pai Hall, Manipal at 9:00 am here on December 26.
The inaugural function was presided over by Dr H Vinod Bhat, Vice Chancellor, Manipal University, Dr HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Manipal University, International Master, DV Prasad, Arjuna Awardee, Sri Charudatta V Jadav, President All India Chess Federation for Blind, Dr Poornima Baliga, Dean KMC, Dr Rajgopal Shenoy, Vice President, UKCA, Dr Vinod C Nayak, Secretary, Sports Council, Manipal Univesity.
International Master, Thejkumar MS of South Western Railways, IM Stany GA of Karnataka, IM DV Prasad of Maharastra, IM Girinath PDS of South Central Railway, IM Ravi Hegde of Karnataka, FM Rajdeep Sarkar, National Under 17 Champion were the the main contenders for the Rs 3,00,000 prize fund tournament. A total of 368 players from Karnataka, Goa, Tamilnadu, Maharastra, Assam, Meghalaya, Tellangana and Kerala participated in this megha event. Out of which 201 were FIDE Rated players.
Charudatta Jadhav, in his speech, requested manipal University to help in online learning facility to Visually impaired chess players. Dr H Vinod Bhat promised to support the request of Charudatta Jadhav and also said that he will support in translating chess books in brail language.
Dr Vinod Naya, Dr Rajgopal Shenoy, Dr Poornima Baliga, Dr H Vinod Bhat, Dr H S Ballal, K Annamalai, IM DV Prasad and Charudatta Jadhav were present.
