The spacious Saranathan Academy of Higher Education, Alunthur, Trichy saw the prestigious 45th Tamil Nadu State Sub Junior (Under – 15) & the 32nd Tamil Nadu State Sub Junior (Under – 15) Girls Chess Championship 2019 being inaugurated on 8th May, 2019. Dr. Gayathri Mathrubootham made the symbolic first move against local star Ms. Cuba Punitha Vilvam inaugurating the tournament.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Gayathri, herself a baseball player in younger years, said, “It is important to keep oneself sharp, as reflexes matter in sports, just as a wood cutter keeps his saw sharp.”
Present in the dais were Shri. R K Balagunasekaran, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Dr. D Valavan, Principal, Saranathan College of Engineering, Chief Arbiter R R Vasudevan, Mrs. A Poorna, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Centenary Vidyalaya and Mr. S Ravindran, Patron, Trichy District Chess Association.
The tournament saw record number of entries adding up to 380 in the Open section and 196 in the Girls Section. This nine round Swiss event is a qualifier for the forthcoming National Sub Junior Chess Championships 2019 to be held in Tiruchengode, Namakkal. Woman Candidate Master Jyothsna L is the top seed in the Girls Section and Candidate Master Rohith Krishna S heads the Open section.

Playing hall

top boards in Open section