Jamshedpur: The 54th National Junior Open (Under-19) and 39th National Junior Girls (Under-19) Chess Championship was grandly inaugurated on Tuesday at Wave International Hotel, Jamshedpur. The prestigious nine-day national event has drawn 339 young chess players from across the country, including 214 players in the Open category and 125 players in the Girls category. With a total prize money of ₹10 lakh, the championship has generated strong interest among chess enthusiasts and officials alike.
The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by R.N. Prasad of the Seraikela-Kharsawan District Chess Association. This was followed by a briefing from Chief Arbiter Ambrish Joshi of Gujarat, who explained the technical rules, format and procedures of the tournament to the players and guests to ensure smooth conduct of the competition.
The championship was formally inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries present. Speaking on the occasion, Sundara Ramam, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, highlighted the journey of Commonwealth Games gold medalist Adhiraj Mitra, describing his struggles and achievements as a source of inspiration for young chess players. The ceremony also included a group photograph with the organizers and guests.
This championship is historic as it is being hosted in Jharkhand for the first time. Several International Masters, FIDE Masters and other titled players from different states and union territories are participating, making the competition highly competitive. Many players described the event as an excellent platform for young talents to test their skills at the national level.
Senior and experienced players attending the event shared their experiences and offered valuable guidance to junior players on understanding the finer aspects of the game. Local players also expressed confidence and enthusiasm about performing well on the national stage.
The organizers stated that all arrangements for the championship were completed well in advance. Special focus has been given to providing comfortable accommodation, proper playing conditions and a fair and transparent competition environment. According to the organizers, the event will not only be memorable for the players but will also help establish Jamshedpur and Jharkhand prominently on the national chess map.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Manoj Kumar, President of the Seraikela-Kharsawan District Chess Association; Manish Kumar, Secretary of the Jharkhand Chess Association; Richa Sanchita, Executive President; Navjot Alang, Secretary of the Ranchi Chess Association; Anil Singhania; Mukul Chaudhary; International Master Neeraj Mishra; Vice Presidents N.K. Singh, Shailendra Kumar, Vinod Singh and Raj Kumar Singh; Patron Suraj Bhadani; Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce President Manav Kedia; and N.K. Tiwari. The ceremony concluded with the playing of the national anthem.
In the boys’ section, top players such as International Masters Ethan Vaz, Mohammed Imran, Mayank Chakraborty, Vignesh Advaith Vemula, Sahil Dey and Daivik Vadhavan are competing. FIDE Masters Borgonka Akshay, Sharanath Viresh, Arnav Maheshwari and Vivian Vishal Shah, along with Arena International Master Theophan Lenin, are also in action.
In the girls’ category, Women FIDE Masters Sherali Patnaik, Shubhi Gupta, Swara Lakshmi S. Nair, Sachi Jain and Pratitee Bordoloi, along with several other strong rated players, are showcasing their talent at the championship.
