South Kanara District Chess Association (affiliated to United Karnataka Chess Association, Bangalore) will organise first State Open Rated Chess Tournament at Karnataka Bank Auditorium in Kodialbail from January 5 to 9, said SKDCA President M S Gururaj.
Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, he said around 200 players across the State including 75 Fide rated players are expected to participate in the event. The first place winner will be awarded Rs 15,000 and a trophy, second prize will carry a cash prize of Rs 9,000, third prize will be Rs 5,000. Prizes will be awarded to 20 players and the cash fund for the tournament is Rs 60,000. In addition, top two players from boys and girls separately under age category U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13 and U-15 will be awarded cash prizes with trophies. Apart from the above, there will be cash prizes for Best South Kanara District Player, Best Veteran Player, Best Unrated Player, Best Woman Player and youngest player.
SKDCA will provide free accommodation for all outstation Fide rated players and also free dormitory for all outstation unrated players.
National ‘A’ Players including N Sanjay, B S Shivanandan, Tejkumar, Ekalavya awardee Sriram Sarja, Stany, Shristy from Shimoga, Master Arjun Bharath, Master Akshay Bharadwaj, Master Sathvik (all Fide rated players of U-9 age category) and former State champion Vijayendra from Mysore will participate. The tournament will be conducted on fide accepted swiss league basis with 10 rounds of 2 hours each.
Entry will be free for IMs, WIMs, FMs and above 2,300 fide rating, for rated players, the fee will be Rs 300, for unrated players outside Dakshina Kannada district, the fee will be Rs 400, for Dakshina Kannada district rated players, the fee will be Rs 250 and for Dakshina Kannada district unrated players, the fee will be Rs 350. This is the first State Fide rated tournament of the district and the last date for registration is December 28 and with penalty of Rs 150, the last date for registration is January 2, 2008. For registration, contact 9845032598 or 9964215099, he added.