1st SOA International Grand Masters Chess Festival Begins In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries and Animal Resources Ranendra Pratap Swain inaugurated the 1st SOA International Grand Masters Chess Festival, which kicked off at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University in Odisha capital on Sunday.

Minister of State for Sports, Youth Services, Home, Electronics and IT Tusharkanti Behera was also present.

Nine Grand Masters and 22 International Masters from across the globe are participating in the festival being organised by the All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) in association with SOA. The International Chess Federation (ICF), All India Chess Federation (AICF), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Odisha government are supporting the tournament.

Speaking on the occasion, Swain said Odisha had witnessed spectacular progress in the field of sports in recent years with the state government pumping money to develop infrastructure par excellence. “The state government’s budgetary allocation for sports had gone up from a meagre Rs 4 crore in 2000-01 to a mind-boggling Rs 1,217 crore in the 2022-23 financial year compared to the Union Government’s Rs 3,397 crore, the highest for any state in the country.”

The Minister further noted how Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had stepped in to help Indian hockey when it had no sponsor, bringing the sport to limelight. “It speaks volumes about the CM’s commitment to development of sports,” he added.

The Sports Minister Behera expressed delight that Odisha was doing well in different sporting events and hosting international and national level competitions in hockey and football.

SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda said the mandate of the university was the holistic development of the students and faculty members and hence importance is also being given to sports. “Our aim is to be visible as a sports hub,” he said.

The total prize money of the tournament, being conducted as per the latest FIDE rules of Chess and FIDE Swiss system with 10 rounds in Category A and B and 9 rounds in Category C, is Rs 35 lakh. Category A will receive Rs 20 lakh and Category B and C Rs 7.5 lakh each.

The tournament will end on February 4 with the prize distribution ceremony.