Jennitha Anto becomes World Chess Champion for disabled

Trichy’s K Jennitha Anto won the 13th IPCA World Women’s Individual Chess Championship in Velke Losiny, Czech Republic last month.

Jennitha competed in a combined group with men and became the highest scorer among the women players and was awarded the IPCA Women’s Chess Title. The title came along with the Woman International Master title.

From her nine games, Jennitha won three games, drew three and lost three to score 4.5 points. Two Russian women tied with Jennitha on points but the higher buchcholz score helped Jennitha win the title.

Jennitha had been coached by IM Raja Ravi Sekhar in the past. Following an accident to her father Kanickai Irudayaraj in 2012, the family became immobilised and her father turned into a coach using chess books as study material.

The Czech Republic event attracted 49 physically challenged players of fifteen countries of the three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe.

Jennitha being a wheel chair player participated in Fide A category and almost all the players are international rated players. Nearly nine title holders participated in this championship, five IM’s, one FM, one WFM and Two WCM’s. More than 25 wheel chair players participated. On the whole the tournament was a tough event.

The new WIM title would allow her direct entry to many of the National events for women except the premier. A strong player, Jennitha is poised to attract more attention as she is the World Women’s IPCA champion.

Final standings of Women:

Gold: WCM K.Jennitha Anto (India)

Silver: WFM Galina Malnik (Russia)

Bronze: WCM Marina Kaydanovich (Russia)