SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 5: Jharkhand’s Neeraj Mishra has become the 3rd International Master (IM) of the country to get the status of the International chess Arbiter (IA).
He got this rare status at Kolhapur (Maharashtra) today by officiating the Senior Women’s National Championship. Sources said FIDE officially announced the IA status of Jharkhand’s Neeraj Mishra in its Congress scheduled in February.
Former national champion Manuel Aaron of Tamil Nadu was the first International Master of the country to become an International Arbiter and after him, former champion and International Master Raja Ravi Shekhar was second to achieve this feat. Neeraj Mishra has now become third.
Four norms (officiating Grand Master level championship) are required for getting the status of International Arbiter.
Notably, Neeraj Mishra got 4th norms of International Arbiter after officiating the Senior National Women’s Chess Championship played at Kolhapur of Maharashtra from December 26 to January 5.
He got first IA norm at Raipur International Grand Master Chess Tournament, Second norm at Bikaner Open International Chess Championship, and third at Delhi International Grand Master Open Chess Tournament.
The 4th and final norm he got at Kolhapur Senior Women’s national which concluded today.
Moreover, Neeraj Mishra also became the 4th International Arbiter of Jharkhand. Before him, Jayant Bhuyan of Jamshedpur, Aiswarya of Dhanbad and Dipak Kumar of Ranchi have already achieved this status.
Notably, Prabhat Ranjan of Dhanbad is in pipeline of getting IA status as he has already got two norms so far.
First International Arbiter of state Jayant Bhuyan (Jamshedpur) and first treasurer of All Jharkhand Chess Association Arvind Sinha (Dhanbad) congratulated Neeraj Mishra for his outstanding achievement.
Neeraj Mishra was also general secretary of state chess and four days ago he resigned. At present, he is the general secretary of the Dhanbad district body.
“It is a rare achievement in national chess to be International Master cum International Arbiter. I can say Neeraj’s achievement is equal to the record of a cricketer who took 500 wickets and made 5000 runs in Test matches,” said Jayant Bhuyan.
