Tata Steel Hosts Chess Tournament for Specially Abled Players

68 Competitors Vie in 9-Round Event at JRD Tata Sports Complex

The 4th All India Specially Abled Chess Tournament, sponsored by Tata Steel, brings together talented players for a competitive and inclusive sporting event in Jamshedpur.

JAMSHEDPUR – The JRD Tata Sports Complex is currently hosting the 4th All India Specially Abled Chess Tournament, organized by Tata Steel, featuring 68 players competing across nine rounds from June 24th to 28th.

"This tournament showcases the incredible talent and determination of specially abled chess players," remarked Pravin Thipsay, Arjuna Awardee and seven-time national champion, who inaugurated the first round.

The event kicked off with three intense rounds on the opening day. Each game follows a time control of 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.

Mukul Vinayak Choudhary, Chief Sports at Tata Steel, and NK Tiwari, Secretary of East Singhbhum District Chess Association, made the ceremonial first move to commence the second round.

An unexpected result occurred when Kanishri P of Tamil Nadu held former champion Samarth Rao to a draw in a Queen’s Gambit Declined game. Meanwhile, Kanan V swiftly defeated Kumar Dinesh in just 26 moves using the Sicilian Defense.

"We’re not just focusing on the competition," explained a Tata Steel representative. "We’ve arranged tours of the Centre For Excellence and local academies to give players and their guardians a deeper understanding of our city’s culture and sporting ecosystem."

The tournament is being overseen by Chief Arbiter International Arbiter Anand Babu and Deputy Chief A Angappan, a specially-abled wheelchair chess referee.