Visakhapatnam: The 3rd Vizag Grandmasters 2022 International Chess Tournament has recently started at GITAM University in Vizag City, with approximately 1,000 registered players, including 150 international FIDE-rated players, competing in three categories based on their chess scores. The eight-day tournament is scheduled to take place from June 10-17, 2022 and was inaugurated in the presence of dignitaries such as Mr. Sri Bharat, President, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Vice Chancellor GITAM Campus Life Pro Gowtham Rao , GITAM Secretary M. Bharadwaj, International Chess Arbiter and Tournament Chief Arbiter Ravichandran, Andhra Chess Association Secretary S. Bheema Rao and GITAM Sports Director K. Arun Karthik.
It takes place in offline format, organized by GITAM University and Andhra Chess Association under the aegis of Chess Federation of India and FIDE (World Chess Federation) and supported by the Ministry of youth and sports, GOI.
The tournament has chess matches in three categories: players with ratings of 2000 and above (category A), players with ratings of 2000 and below for the last three years (category B) and players with ratings of 1600 and less for the last three years (Category C). The total price is Rs 15 lakh for Category A (40 prizes) and Rs 5 lakh each for Categories B and C (100 prizes each).
Chess players from countries such as the United States, Georgia, Vietnam, FIDE, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Azerbaijan, to name a few, take part in the tournament. Each category of the tournament also sees the participation of Indian and International Chess Masters, both male and female, in Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 formats. It also has matches for unranked players.
“GITAM has always encouraged sport and athletes, in particular by offering sports scholarships for admission. The excellence of our chess talent leads to prestige, opportunities for advancement and special recognition. I thank the international grandmasters for participating in the tournament to inspire the younger generation,” said Mr. Sri Bharat, President of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM).
“We are delighted to be part of the organizing team of the GITAM 3rd Vizag Grand Masters International Tournament 2022. India is the land of chess and has produced world chess grandmasters such as Viswanathan Anand, Pentala Harikrishna and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who created ripples in international chess from the age of 16. World-level tournaments such as the current one in Vizag are important to showcase and hone chess talent in India” , said KVV Sharma, president of the Andhra Chess Association.
