World Chess Championship for Blind in Goa from October 9

Panaji, Oct 7 (UNI) Reigning world champion International Master Yunussof of Kazakhstan will be among 82 players, 45 of them internationally rated, vying for the title in the XIth individual World Chess Championship for Blind to be held at Margao from October 9 to 18.

International Braille Chess Association (IBCA) president Ludwic Beutehhof and All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICF) general secretary Charudatta Jadhav told a joint press conference here today that 82 players from 31 countries will be participating in the meet. Seventeen of them are FIDE-awarded International Masters who have been recognised as IMs for their performance against sighted players, they informed. Three International Women Masters and six FIDE Masters will also participate in the meet.

India is hosting the championship under the aegis of the IBCA for the first time, Jadhav informed. The earlier ten meets had all been held in Europe. India will be represented in the meet by eight players and they include Srikrishna Udappa (Karnataka), Darshan Patel (Gujarat), Rajesh Oza (Pune), and Madan Bhagalkar, Gaurav Gaudadiya, Swapnil Shah, Shirish Patil and Vasant Patil (all Mumbai).

The championship will be conducted in nine rounds of Swiss league.

Every day, pairing will be done by computers and the games played will be recorded and distributed to the players in print as well as in Braille on the next day as per the international practice. This will help the players to prepare against their future opponents.

Jadhav said specially-designed chess boards, pieces, and chess clocks will be used. Few of the players will record their moves on dictaphones and Brailler (type-writer for the visually impaired).

German is the official language for the game.

The chief arbiter for the championship will be international arbiter V Kameshwaran who has conducted many international tournaments. He will be assisted by another international arbiter T N Bahadure.

The championship will be inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Manishankar Iyer and Goa Sports Minister Pandurang Madkaikar will grace the concluding day's function.

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