JAMMU: All Jammu and Kashmir Chess Association, the organisers of the South Asian Amateur Chess championship, shifted the competition venue to Jammu from Summer Capital of Srinagar.
Scheduled to be held at Srinagar from 1st to 6th September, the event shall now take place on same dates but with changes in the venue.
“The event has been shifted to Jammu in view of the ongoing unrest in parts of Kashmir, especially in Srinagar. Now, the competition shall take place at Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust building on National Highway-1A, near Channi Himmat, Jammu,” Atul Kumar Gupta, President of All J and K Chess Association and Joint Secretary All India Chess Federation told reporters, here on Thursday.
“As many as 500 players from eight countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) including 40 players from Jammu and Kashmir would vie for top honours in the historic South Asian Amateur Chess Championship to be hosted by J and K in association with J and K State Sports Council for the first time in Jammu,” he said adding that the participating countries are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives.
Atul further said the event was recognised by the World Chess Federation, Asian Chess Federation and All India Chess Federation.
Total nine rounds under Swiss System will be played in this event in which cash prizes worth Rs. 10 lakh will be distributed among the winners along with certificates and trophies, he said adding that Srivatsan will be appointed by Asian Federation as Chief Arbiter of this event with 11 Deputy Arbiters.
For any information players can check World Chess Federation website www.fide.com, Indian Chess Federation website www.aicf.in and All J and K Chess Association website www.allikchess.com. he said.
Association members also honoured ace chess player of the Jammu and Kashmir State, Meenal Gupta for bringing laurels to the State by winning gold medal in the Commonwealth Chess Championship held at Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka, recently. Members hoped that with the regular conduct of big events by All J and K Chess Association many more players from J and K will excel at national and international level in the coming future.