50th National Championship for Women
Chettinadu Public School is proud to host the prestigious 50th National Women Chess Championship 2024 in collaboration with the Sivagangai District Chess Association, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, and the All India Chess Federation. This milestone tournament is being held from 3rd to 13th October 2024 at the school’s campus.
With a total prize fund of Rs. 30 lakhs, this tournament is one of the most crucial events for Indian women chess players, serving as the selection platform for the 2025 Women’s World Cup, which is a stepping stone to the World Chess Championship for Women.
India’s recent success, winning DOUBLE GOLD MEDALS at the 45th Olympiad 2024 in Hungary, has heightened the excitement around this event. A total of one hundred and fifty three players from twenty five states will participate in the 11 day for 11 rounds in this tournament. The championship will be intense, with almost all top players participating, except for the recent Olympiad medallists.
lM elect Velpulaya Sarayu of Telangana is the top seed of the event. The salient feature of the tournament is participation of three International Masters (women with men title), eight Women Grandmasters, seven Women International Masters and twelve Woman FIDE Masters. The reigning champion IM Padmini Rout of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board and Odisha, former champion and 2023 runner up Mary Ann Gomes of Railways and West Bengal and former Asian champion Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa have confirmed their entries. Bhakti has the highest rating of 2363 among the players, followed by Padmini with a rating of 2328 and Mary Ann 2298. Other notable Woman Grandmasters in the tournament are Priyanka Nutakki of Andhra Pradesh, Srija Seshadri of Tamil Nadu, former national champions IM Nisha Mohota of PSPB, WGM Swati Ghate of LIC, WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty of LIC and WGM V Varshini of Tamil Nadu. The talented players WIM Isha Sharma of Karnataka, WIM Arpita Mukherjee of West Bengal and WIM Sakshi Chitlange of Maharashtra, WIM Priyanka K of Tamil Nadu and Dr. Nimmy A George of Kerala add star attractions to the tournament.
Free meal is provided to all players and accompanying persons which portraits the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu. The seeded and selected participants from all states are provided with free AC accommodation in different posh hotels of Karaikudi. Transportation has been arranged for the to pick-up and drop the players from their hotels to the venue and back.
Chief guest making the first move on the top board
The tournament will be inaugurated by Thiru Dev Patel, Secretary of the All India Chess Federation, on the first day, in the presence of Thiru P. Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Thiru SP Kumaresan, Chairman, Chettinadu Public School, Thiru K. Arun, Vice Chairman, Chettinadu Public School
Inaugural of chief guest with other guests
Chettinadu Public School has been a constant support of sports and especially chess. It has earlier produced a world champion in chess – Lakshana Subramanian in the under 8 girls category. The school also has organised the same national championship in 2019 and the national under 11 championship in 2018. It went one step further in organising an international master norm tournament involving foreigners and Indians last year. All have been acclaimed as the best ever nationals in the history of Indian chess. About two weeks back, the South zone Taekwondo for CBSE schools was organised in a splendid manner with the participation of more than 1800 people
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