Final report :2nd Asian Chess Championship for Disabilities 2024

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Date                    : November 10-18, 2024
Location             : Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Event Dates       : November 11-17, 2024
Tournament Format: Swiss System, 9 Rounds
Delegate             : Tamizharasan Murugan
Country              : INDIA

Medal Winners of INDIAN PLAYERS

2 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze

Open:

Venkata Krishna Karthik of Andhra Pradesh        [6/9]     GOLD

Samarth J Rao of Karnataka                                    [6/9]     SILVER

Juniors:

Jinay Ankitbhai Shah of Gujarat                             [4.5/9]  SILVER

Aditya Asaram Ghule of Madhya Pradesh            [4.5/9]  BRONZE

Junior Girls:

Sharon Rachel Aby of Tamil Nadu                          [6.5/9]  GOLD

Durkasri Maruthaiah of Tamil Nadu                      [5/9]     SILVER

Women:

Ezhilarasi Gopalakrishna [6/9] Best unrated of the tournament [Being an unrated of the tournament, she performed well by scoring 3 points against a rated player.] Complete with 4th place
Total = 6 medal in this Asian championship for Players with Disabilities 2024 [INDIA]

1. Overview of the Event

The 2nd Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities 2024 was held from November 10–17, 2024, at the Bridges Hotel in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The tournament attracted 79 players from 7 countries across Asia, showcasing immense talent and competitive spirit. Organized by the Kyrgyz Chess Union and the Asian Chess Federation, the championship provided a platform for chess players with disabilities—blind, physically disabled, and hearing impaired—to demonstrate their intellectual prowess and resilience.

India’s delegation of 8 players brought home an impressive 6 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze), further cementing its strong standing in the global chess community.

2. Introduction and Welcome

The championship began with a vibrant opening ceremony, featuring speeches from key dignitaries of the Kyrgyz Chess Union and Asian Chess Federation. The ceremony highlighted chess as a unifying and empowering intellectual sport. A ceremonial first move, 1. e4, was played by a distinguished guest, symbolizing the tournament’s commencement.

Officials emphasized the tournament’s mission of inclusivity and excellence while outlining the Swiss-system format (9 rounds) and time controls (90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move).

3. Participants from India

India was represented by 8 talented players, competing across four categories:

• Open Category
  • Venkata Krishna Karthik K (1870)
  • Samarth J Rao (1835)

• Women Category
  • Ezhilarasi Gopalakrishna
• Juniors Category
  • Aditya Asaram Ghule (1486)
  • Jinay Ankitbhai Shah (1464)
• Junior Girls Category
  • Sharon Rachel Aby (1493)
  • Durkasri Maruthaiah (1435)
  • Charvi Mehta (1423)

4. Performance Highlights

Open Category

• Gold Medalist: Venkata Krishna Karthik K (6/9)
  • Achieved notable victories, including an upset against 6th seed Kozhakhmetov Sultan (1940) in Round 2 and Oorzhak Aldar (1926) in Round 5.
• Silver Medalist: Samarth J Rao (6/9)
  • Drew with higher-rated Oorzhak Akdar (1926) in Round 3 and achieved a key win against Safarov Jonibek (1889) in Round 2.

Women Category

• Notable Performance: Ezhilarasi Gopalakrishna (6/9)
  • Achieved 4th place overall despite facing higher-rated opponents. Recognized as the Best Unrated Player for her remarkable performance.

Juniors Category

• Silver Medalist: Jinay Ankitbhai Shah (4.5/9)
  • Defeated higher-rated opponents Pinsov Dimitriy (1676) and Usmanov Dias (1504) in early rounds.
• Bronze Medalist: Aditya Asaram Ghule (4.5/9)
  • Displayed consistent gameplay throughout the event.

Junior Girls Category

• Gold Medalist: Sharon Rachel Aby (6.5/9)
  • A standout player, defeating Osmanova Alina (1554) in Round 5 and drawing with Ikromalieva Sabokhat (1628) in Round 2.
• Silver Medalist: Durkasri Maruthaiah (5/9)

5. Tournament Overview

Venue and Infrastructure

The tournament was hosted at Bridges Hotel, Bishkek, featuring four playing halls, modern media facilities, and excellent infrastructure for players and spectators.

6. Medal Tally for India

Category	Player	Medal	Score
Open	Venkata Krishna Karthik K	Gold	6/9
Open	Samarth J Rao	Silver	6/9
Juniors	Jinay Ankitbhai Shah	Silver	4.5/9
Juniors	Aditya Asaram Ghule	Bronze	4.5/9
Junior Girls	Sharon Rachel Aby	Gold	6.5/9
Junior Girls	Durkasri Maruthaiah	Silver	5/9

The 2nd Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities 2024 was a resounding success for India, with our players excelling across multiple categories. Their performances underscore the strength and resilience of Indian chess.

The support from Sports Authority of India (SAI), All India Chess Federation (AICF), and Chess Federation for Physically Disabled (CFPD) played a crucial role in this success. We look forward to continuing this momentum in future international tournaments.