National Chess for the Blind

Makwana champ, Krishna Udapa Runner-up

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, a national NGO founded by the Visually Impaired Trustees in the year 1997, in association with KPMG India organized The National open Chess tournament for the visually impaired from February 26th at Yavanika, on the occasion of its 12th foundation day.

TOURNAMENT.
More than around150 player from allover the nation including international FIDE rated players likes Mr. Krishna Udupa from Karnataka, Mr.Swapnil Shaha from Maharashtara, Mr.Madan.Bagayatkar, Mr.Sanjay Koulkar from Goa, Mr.Mahammad Sati from kerala and national Jr champion for the blind took part in the tournament. Chess is the game in which visually challenged persons can play on par with the normal persons.
Results:

1ST DAY
As the day began, in a first round of the tournament 150 visually challenged persons across the nation participated, by 4 pm 2 rounds of the game were completed out of 9 rounds. The final round was played on 2nd March 2009 and same day closing ceremony was arranged. Bangalorians came in large numbers to witness this unique event and also encouraged the disabled

Following are the results for the 2 rounds:
Internationally rated player Mr Krishna Udupa from, Karnataka went through the first round against Murthy M from Tamil Nadu.

Mr Swapnil Shah from Maharashtra defeated Mr Naga Shiva Reddy from Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Nagaraj Y from Andhra Pradesh lost to Mr Madan Bagayatkar from Maharashtra.
Mr Sanjay Kavelekar from Goa went through the first round by defeating Mr Nagraj KS from Kerala.

Round 2
Internationally rated player Mr Krishna Udupa from Karnataka defeated Mr Harilal S
Mr Jalendar Reddy from Andhra Pradesh was defeated to Mr Swapnil Sha from Maharashtra thus leading him through to the next round.
Mr Sanjay Kavelekar from Goa defeated Mr Jiju from Kerala.
Internationally rated player Mr Raj Kumar from Tamil Nadu defeated Mr Lingaraju from Karnataka.

Round 3:
Internationally rated player Sri Krishna Udupa from Karnataka defeated Mr Ajay Kumar from Kerala.
Another internationally rated player Mr Swapnil Sha from Maharashtra defeated Mr Baswaraj HK from Karnataka.
Internationally rated player Mr Madan Bgayatkar from Maharashtra defeated Mr Bhakiya Raj from Tamil Nadu.

In Day 3:  Round 4
Internationally rated players like Mr Sri Krishna Udupa from Karnataka and Mr Noushed EP  from Gujarat went in for a draw with  Raajhesh Raajput from Gujarat and Mr Swapnil Shah from Maharashtra.

Round 5:
In the 5th round Internationally rated player Sri Krishna Udupa from Karnataka and Mr Samjay Kavelekar an Internationally rated player from Goa both went in for a draw, so did Mr Swapnil Sha, Mr Amit Deshpande went in for a draw with Mr Ashwin Makhwana and Mr Madan Bagyatkar.

Day 4:  Round 7
As the fourth day began, in 7th round of the game Mr Krishna Udupa lost to Mr Ashwin Makwana which is a big surprise of the tournament.
Similarly in the same round national junior champion Mr Saikumar from Tamil Nadu, who is the youngest player age 12 years defeated FIDE rated player Mr Rajakumar who also happens to be from Tamil Nadu.
Round 8:

Mr Ashwin  Makwana who defeated FIDE rated player like Mr Krishna Udupa was forced to accept the draw with Mr Athula Kakde.
Mr Sai krisna comfortably won against Mr Sanjay Gawalekar of Goa who is also FIDE rated player.
Following are the results for the 8th round top
MR Atul Sadashiv Kakade and Mr Ashwin K Makwana both went in for a draw whereas Mr Krishna ST from TN defeated Mr Sanjay Kavlekar an Internationally rated player from Goa 7:6
Another internationally rated player Mr Krishna Udupa from Karnataka defeated Mr Swapnil Shah N (International rated player.) from Maharashtra.
Mr Noushad EP, Mr Shaibu T and Mr Mahesh B went in for a draw with Mr Amit Deshpande, Mr Mohammad Salih PK and Mr Ajaya Kumar A.  
During the 7th round Mr Ashwin Makwana from Gujarat defeated world number 1 chess player Mr Krishna Udupa from Karnataka.
Among the junior level Mr Saikumar from Tamil Nadu the youngest player defeated FIDE rated player MR Rajakumar in the same round.
During the 8th round Mr Ashwin Makwana was forced to accept a draw with Mr Athula Kakde.
In the same round itself national Junior champion Mr Saikrishna comfortably won against Mr Sanjay Gawalekar of Goa who is a FIDE rated player. 
Highlight of the 9th round

Ashwin K Makwana of Gujarat was forced to accept draw against a young 12 years old Sai Krishna from Tamilnadu. Makwana won the prestigious championship. This draw led to Makwana winning the prestigious championship. Top seed Krishna Udappa of Karnataka was also forced to accept drew from Athul Kakkade of Maharashtra at the end of 23rd move and won the second prize.  Third prize winner Madhan Bagayatkar of Bombay, a very experienced internationally rated player was two points down but finished victorious only with experience against T. Saibu of Kerala.

Valedictory function

S.P Nagash, Vice President, Paralympics Committee of India expressed his joy and complemented the players for traveling all the way to Bangalore and he would work towards getting chess federation recognition from Govt. of India.

Mr. Madhan Bgayatkar vice president of All India Chess Federation for the Blind explained the promotional plans of the chess for the blind in India and also congra  tulated Sam arthanam Trust for the Disabled for organizing such great event in Bangalore.

Mr. Mahantesh G.K Managing Trustee of Samarthanam while giving the prizes thanked KPMG India for making this event happen and appreciated KPMG for their genuine concern in the cause.

ABOUT THE GAME AND HOW IT IS PLAYED
Blind chess is played with almost the same rules as conventional chess. There are a few modifications made to the equipment though as mentioned below:

1. All the black squares are raised about 3-4 mm above the white squares. By feeling the squares, the player is able to determine whether the square is a black or a white one.

2. Each of the squares on the board has a hole in the centre so that the pieces can be fixed in these holes. Each of the pieces has a downward projection (nail) at the base, which fits into the hole in the squares on the board, thereby fixing the piece securely on the board.

3. All the black pieces have a pin fixed on their heads helping the player distinguish between a white and a black piece.

The players therefore, by feeling the raised or the lowered squares can figure out whether the piece is on a black or a white square. By feeling the shape of the piece, they can determine whether the piece is a Pawn, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Queen or King. The touch of the pin on the pieces helps the player from distinguishing a white piece from a black one. The player is therefore able to have a clear picture in his mind of the position on the board. He is now ready to take on any opponent, sighted or otherwise.

After making every move, the visually impaired person is required to announce the move aloud, so that his opponent comes to know of the move.