SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 31: Saraikela Kharsawan District Chess Association will organise BT Rao Memorial State Open Rapid chess Championship on June 3 at Autocluster, Adityapur in Jamshedpur.
The All Jharkhand Chess Association’s official on Tuesday said that top 10 players of the tournament will be awarded with cash prize and trophy. Only registered players from Jharkhand can be participate in the championship.
The tournament is being organised in the memory of Late B. Tata Rao, the former Joint Secretary of All Jharkhand Chess Association, who is considered one of the promoters of chess in the state. He died during the second wave of covid at the age of 82 in 2021.
“He was one of the pillars of the Chess organisation not only in Jamshedpur but also in the undivided Singhbhum. He was also a reputed player, organizer and promoter of volleyball but his contribution for Chess is unforgettable”, said Neeraj Mishra, the All Jharkhand Chess Association’s secretary.
BT Rao, popularly called ‘BT Da’ by sports enthusiasts in Jamshedpur, was the organising secretary of the Tata International Open Chess 1994 which attracted 435 participants, a record back then.
The event is still remembered by the players across the country. Later, he was assigned to develop and propagate the game in the newly formed Saraikela District. He also acted as secretary for a year in 2012-13.
The organisers said that the interested players from Jharkhand will have to submit their entres by June 2.
A total of Rs 14,000 prize money would be distributed among the top 10 players of the tournament in which winner will be awarded Rs. 4,500 along with a trophy. Apart from cash prizes, the top 3 finishers Boys and Girls will also be given trophies in Under – 10, 12, 14, 16 categories.
