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Do a `checkmate' on the Web!

Special Correspondent

India's first multi-player chess site goes online

— Photo: Special Arrangement

MATCHING SKILLS ONLINE: Asian junior girls chess champion Tania Sachdeva and World junior champion Koneru Humpy, launching Zapak's multiplayer speed chess web resource.

Bangalore: Is there a chess opponent across the world, you would like to take on? No problem — India's largest games portal, Zapak last week launched a special site, which enables a multiplayer session, across the Web, for beginners, advanced players and experts.

Players can register at the free site and choose between 2D and 3D views of the chessboard. They can also review a complete record of the match — just as the pros do. They can call it a day — and continue to battle it later. And (something the Grandmasters might not approve of!), they can carry on a chat with the opponent, in parallel.

The www.zapak.com chess page also offers the option of speed chess — with only 10 seconds for every move.

The larger Zapak online games portal was launched by the Reliance ADA group last month.Last week, the new chess resource was inaugurated here jointly by the reigning world junior champion Koneru Humpy and the Asian Girls champion Tania Sachdeva. They also announced India's first online grandmaster championship, which kicks off on February 1 and carries a cash price of Rs. 1 lakh for the top talent the tourney may uncover. Who knows, it might even uncover another Tania or Humpy!

Blogspace for games

"The Year 2007 will be known as the Year of Gaming in India," feels Raoul Bangara, chief executive of GameGuru (www.gameguru.in) , India's first site where hardcore gamers and gaming industry professionals can post their blogs. What used to be the preserve of those who played casual games in a `time pass' spirit on their mobile phones or PCs has grown to become a mini industry, thanks to the availability of games consoles like PlayStation and XBox. That has convinced Gameguru that Indian gamers and game-makers need an online clearinghouse where they could bounce ideas off each other and exchange news and views. They have therefore launched a blogsite tailored to the needs of the gaming business.

Gameguru has promised to have gaming stalwarts share their knowledge and experience at the site, while adding new audio and video content.

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