Grand Master chess in September

KATHMANDU, Aug 6: For the first time in Nepal, Grand Master International Chess Tournament is scheduled to be held from September 9-14 in the capital. Himalayan Chess Club (HCC) of Lalitpur is the organizer of the Himalayan Grand Master International Chess Tournament.



Organizing a press conference on Friday, coordinator of the tournament management committee Herakaji Maharjan said that five Grand Masters (GMs) and 10 International Masters (IMs) would participate in the tournament. GMs are the highest profile chess players in the world. None of the Nepali chess players have got the status of either GM or IM. [break]



Some GMs and IMs from India and Bangladesh have confirmed their participation in the tournament while players rated more than 2,200 are expected to arrive from Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries.



According to the organizers, 40 players will participate in the tournament out of which 20 will be Nepali including the only FIDE Master (FM) of Nepal Manish Hamal.



Top rated players including the participants of the 39th World Chess Olympiad -- Badrilal Nepal, Wilamlal Shrestha, Prachandaman Malakar, Keshav Shrestha and Uttam Thapa -- will represent Nepal in the tournament to be held in Russia in September.



Nepal Chess Association President Rajesh Hari Joshi said the tournament will be important in terms of increasing ratings and getting IM norms for Nepali players.



A 51-member main organizing committee is formed under the chairmanship of HCC President Ram Kumar Thapa. Similarly, management committee under coordination of Herakaji Maharjan, economic and technical committee under Gyanendra Khaiju and committee to manage and welcome guests under Bijay J Shrestha have been formed.



For participating in the tournament the organizers will give GMs Rs 22,500 each and Rs 7,500 each to IMs. The organizers will make food and lodging arrangements for foreign players.



The tournament to be held until ninth round in the Swiss League System carries a total cash prize of Rs 265,000. Top five players will bag a purse of Rs 75,000, Rs 52,500, Rs 37,500, Rs 22,500 and Rs 15,000 respectively while sixth and seventh players will receive Rs 11,250. Players securing eighth to tenth positions will receive Rs 7,500 each.



The best among Nepali players will bag Rs 7,500 while second and third players will get Rs 3,750 each. The expected expense of the tournament is Rs 1.5 million.

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