MPL 31st National Under-18 Chess Championships 2022 preview

National Under 18 Chess Championships invite you to Pollachi, Coimbatore

Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu is popular for two things – one, the industrial and textile city of Coimbatore and the other is chess, because of the former president of All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association – Dr. N Mahalingam. It is to be noted that the five times world champion became a grandmaster by achieving his final GM norm at the Sakthi Sugars GM tournament at the age of 18 in 1987. The tournament was organized by Dr. N Mahalingam at Coimbatore.

To celebrate the centenary birthday of Dr. N Mahalingam, the college named after him – Dr. N Mahalingam College of Engineering & Technology. The college and Coimbatore District Chess Association decided to jointly organize the MPL National Under 18 Chess Championships at the college campus from 18th to 23rd April 2022. The chairman of the college is none other than Dr.M Manickam, the current president of TNSCA and the illustrious son of the illustrious father Dr. Mahalingam.

The National Under-18 championships is bound to attract the creamy layer of many Grandmasters and International Masters in this age category from different parts of the country. More than 300 players are expected to participate in the eleven round six days tournament. The main attraction of the event is the participation of the GM Bharath Subramaniyam H rated above 2500, in addition to IM Manish Anto Cristiano and IM Avinash Ramesh from Tamil Nadu.

The huge indoor auditorium in the college is being renovated for this purpose and several air conditioners are to be set up in the hall.

The indoor stadium is at the back left near the big circular hostel building.

The top twenty games of the championships are to telecast live on popular websites, so that millions of viewers can enjoy the games of the championships.

The college is taking care about the transport of the participants from Coimbatore to Pollachi – be from the airport or train. The only thing the participants have to do is to inform the organisers about the details of their arrival.

Pollachi has hosted several national championships at the college campus and popular players like former Asian Women champion IM S Vijayalakshmi, former under 18 world champion Aarthie Ramaswamy have won the national titles here.

Special mention has to be made about the contribution to chess by the 80-year-old (one of the oldest chess associations in India) Coimbatore District Chess Association. N Jayapal, the president of CDCA is immensely involved in the growth of the association, under the patronage of Dr. M Manickam.

Coimbatore has produced several international masters like former commonwealth champion P Mithrakanth and IM V Saravanan. The latest sensations are the WIM K Priyanka and the GM-elect Rathanvel V S.

The team under the guidance of Dr. C Ramasamy, the secretary of the college has made excellent arrangements for the participants and their parents to have a free comfortable stay with cots, beds, pillows and also good dining.

Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam

Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam was the Founder Chairman of Sakthi Group, 6,000 crore industrial conglomerate operating in sugar, automobiles, finance, power and logistics. As a polymath, he excelled in industry, entrepreneurship, culture, Gandhian politics, sports, religion, spirituality, philosophy, journalism etc. He received the Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India in 2007 for his contributions to the nation in the field of Trade and Industry.

Dr. Mahalingam’s contribution to chess in India and in particular Tamil Nadu is immense. As the president of All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, he championed the growth and development of chess in the county and the state. Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam was a chess philanthropist beyond comparison.

His compassion to chess players in distress was phenomenal. He instituted incentives to players who achieved international and grand master titles which inspired the chess players to higher efforts. He was instrumental in the central government recognising chess as a major sports eligible for grants.

The enigmatic and simple Gandhian way of life merged into the light on October 2, 2014, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Throughout his life Dr. N M carried the twin torches of Gandhian values and Vallalar’s way of life, a pathway to lead a life of consciousness.

Pollachi is a small town on the foot hills of the Western ghat, with a population about two lakhs. It is second largest town in the Coimbatore district and 40 KMs away from Coimbatore, which is well-connected to the rest of India through air, train and bus.

The Anamalai tiger reserve in Valaparai is situated about 65 km from Pollachi.

Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering & Technology and Coimbatore District Chess Association have great pleasure in inviting you to the nationals and have sporting competition, fun and pleasure.

Players list Open

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Players list Girls

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About the Author

Prof. Rathinam Anantharam is an A-grade international arbiter. Member of FIDE Arbiters’ Commission, Chairman of Titles Commission in All India Chess Federation, Vice President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Chief Arbiter for six world championships, many Asian, International and National Championships.

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