Students display mental agility

The much-awaited finals of ‘Inter Zone University Chess Tournament’ for both men and women in Association with Inter University Sports Board of India (AIU), recently concluded at the Amity University, Noida.

Around 12 teams participated from various universities located in four different zones. These included SRM University and Madras University, Chennai from South Zone, Delhi University, Punjab University, Chandigarh, CSJM University, Kanpur and Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar from North Zone, Mumbai University, Mumbai, Savitribai Phule University, Pune, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon from West Zone and KIIT University, Bhubaneshwar, Calcutta University, West Bengal and Patna University from East Zone.

Speaking about the tournament, Dr B Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University, said, “It is a proud moment for us to host the prestigious finals of Inter Zone University Chess Tournament for both men and women. Although all sports are good but chess makes the players mentally agile, decisive and true leaders. Chess involves a lot of concentration and even a single hurried move could be the last one in the game of kings and pawns.”

The Vice Chancellor also called upon the players to participate in the finals with true sportsmanship because it is the “participation that matters rather than victory or defeat”.

Sharing details about the tournament, Dr Kalpana Sharma, director, Amity School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, said, “It is for the first time that Amity University is hosting such a premier chess tournament. During the tournament, each team would have to play five matches and the final four teams selected would compete in World Chess Tournament representing India.”

The tournament was played as per Swiss League System, wherein the teams played all rounds without any knock-out rounds.