Jamshedpur: 4th edition of Tata Steel’s special abled chess championship concludes

Jamshedpur, June 28: The 4th All India FIDE Rated Special Abled Tata Steel Chess Championship 2024, held at the JRD Tata Sports Complex from June 24 to 28, concluded today with a prize distribution ceremony. The event aimed to provide a platform for chess players with disabilities from across India to showcase their talent and passion for the game.

The closing ceremony was graced by several distinguished guests. The Chief Guest for the event was Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel. Other notable guests included N. K. Tiwary, Secretary, East Singhbhum Chess Association; Anand Babu VL, Chief Arbiter & Treasurer, CFPD; Baskaran M, Secretary, CFPD; Praveen S Hegde, Chief Financial Officer, JCAPCPL; Ajay Kumar Singh, Chief Human Resource Officer, JCAPCPL; Prashant Kumar, Company Secretary, JCAPCPL; Tauseef Eqbal, Additional Divisional Manager, JCAPCPL; Vinod Kumar Thakur, UCM; Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, Chief Sports; Vibhuti Dhand Adesara, Head Sports (Events & Training Centres); and Jayant Kumar Bhuiyan, Arbiter & Coach, Tata Steel Chess Training Centre.

During his address at the closing ceremony, Chanakya Chaudhary emphasized Tata Steel’s commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the chess community. “Hosting the All India FIDE Rated Special Abled Tata Steel Chess Championship 2024 marks another significant achievement in Tata Steel’s ongoing support for chess and its commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the chess community,” he said. He also highlighted the company’s dedication to providing a platform for specially abled chess players to demonstrate their skills and compete at a high level.

The championship, which offered a prize money of Rs 3,17,000, attracted 68 participants from 16 states. The tournament was played over 9 rounds and, for the first time, provided accidental insurance for all players, escorts, and officials. Some of the top FIDE players who competed in the event included Naveen Kumar, Venkata Krishna Karthick, and Samarth J Rao. Prominent male participants were Naveen Kumar, Rajesh Kumar Jena, Samarth J Rao, Kanan V, and Kumar Dinesh, while the prominent female player was Kanishri P.

During the closing ceremony, Chanakya Chaudhary, along with the distinguished guests, handed over the prizes to the winners.