As soon as you enter the venue, you will find the giant chess board which attracts all chess lovers | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Bhopal International GM Tournament 2019, recognized by FIDE and AICF was inaugurated today at Kanta Shravan Palace today by Mr. Anurag Jain, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance - Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. S L Thoessen, IPS, Director, Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Chief Asset and Madhya Pradesh Chess Federation President Sunil Bansal and Secretary Kapil Saxena.
All foreign players and guests were given a flower garland each | Photo: Niklesh Jain
The tournament is organized under the aegis of Madhya Pradesh Chess Association, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare and the Academy of Chess Education.
Lighting of the lamp at the inauguration ceremony | Photo: Niklesh Jain
The inauguration ceremony started with the traditional lighting of the lamp. Chief Guest of the occasion Mr. Anurag Jain said that strong Grandmasters coming from abroad and playing at Bhopal is a very big thing. On behalf of Sports Youth Welfare Department, Dr. S L Thoessen expressed happiness in the popularization of the tournament and wished the best to all the players.
Organizing Secretary Kapil Saxena thanked all the parents for their dedication their children | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Top seed of the tournament GM Nodirbek Yakubboev and Chief Guest Anurag Jain made the inaugural first move | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Venue of Bhopal International GM 2019 - beautiful Hotel Kanta Shravan Palace | Photo: Niklesh Jain
First round
All top seeded titled players make a smooth start on the first round.
Top seed Nodirbek Yakubboev beat Kshitij Kadam of Karnataka | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Jagdish Narang of Madhya Pradesh might have lost his game against second seeded Ukrainian GM Stanislav Bogdanovich, however he was delighted with the opportunity to play against him
Arul Anandh forced Adam Tukhaev to play 49 moves on the third board | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Fourth seeded Colombian GM Cristhian Rios registered his first victory on Indian soil by defeating Ojas Khamele | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Highest rated Indian player of the tournament GM M R Venkatesh scored a fine victory over compatriot Ketan Patil | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Photo Gallery
For foreign players, a small effort related to Indian culture is also very special and this is the beauty of India | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Players at the inauguration ceremony in the world class tournament hall
Would you like to bring this special chess table to your home? Well this was made according to the concept of the organizing secretary Kapil Saxena, the inaugural first move was played on the same board | Photo: Niklesh Jain
His wife also likes the game and her saree reflects that thought
Translation from Hindi by Shahid Ahmed
Replay all completed games
