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Monday, Aug 18, 2008
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FIDE-rated tournament from today

Arvind Aaron

CHENNAI: A total of 250 players from nine states will be seen in action in the first Modern School International FIDE-rated chess tournament which will be held from August 18 to 23 here.

“We accept players of any age who are bona-fide students of any school,” said the organisers. Representation of entries is from across India, with a large number from Tamil Nadu.

School boys and girls will play in one combined section of ten rounds with the best qualifying for various age category prizes. The combined winner gets Rs. 25,000 and the total prize fund is Rs. 1,00,000.

Modern Senior Secondary School, which will be the venue and also the sponsor, is investing in chess. “This tournament will be an annual feature though the dates and month can change,” said the School Secretary at a press meet.

Several of Tamil Nadu’s best players are from this school. GM Krishnan Sasikiran, alumni of the school, will make the inaugural move on Monday in the presence of D.V. Sundar, Honorary Secretary, All-India Chess Federation.

“Schools and colleges are turning to chess and this is a major breakthrough,” said V. Ravichandran, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.

Top players such as FIDE Master S. Nitin of Salem and Woman FIDE Master Pon N. Krithikha are bound to make the event interesting.

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