Arjun Erigaisi, Harika Dronavalli and Telangana Chess Heroes honored at the 2nd Chess Festival by ChessBase India

Chess stars felicitated in Hyderabad

The chess culture in Telangana is improving day by day. So far, India has received 6 Grandmasters from Telangana. What recently happened in the 2nd Chess Festival will ensure that this number will grow significantly in the coming years!

On the 10th of August, ChessBase India organized the 2nd Chess Festival at the prestigious Shri Ram Academy International School in Hyderabad. The event started with a puzzle-solving competition followed by the Blitz tournament and concluded with a felicitation program. This event brought together the finest talents of Telangana, who performed well at the national and international levels in the last year. The motto of this ceremony was to celebrate the journey and dedication of these players which contributed to the growth of chess in the state. 

Beacons of Telangana Chess

Arjun Erigaisi is a young chess player who has been creating a mark on the international level with his hard work and determination. He has shown a meteoric rise this year by climbing to India's number one and world number four. His consistent performances in various tournaments against the top players earned him a place among the elite players. 

On the other hand, Harika Dronavalli is a seasoned player who has shown exceptional dedication to the game over the years. She is one of the strongest female chess players India has ever produced. With her resilience, she keeps setting new standards for women in chess.

Along with their achievements, these two players have contributed significantly to the growth of chess in India, especially Telangana. Their efforts in promoting chess are unmatched which is why the idea of felicitating them came.  

All the participants were eagerly waiting to meet their idols and listen to them. This was seen in the applause that filled the venue as soon as Arjun and Harika entered. Both of them were felicitated with traditional shawls and mementos. In the speech, Harika mentioned the importance of such chess tournaments in Telangana to develop more chess players. So that chess culture will be developed in the state just like in Tamilnadu. Whereas Arjun talked about how his family has supported him in his career motivating other parents to do the same.

Heroes working behind the scenes

Renowned coaches, organizers, journalists, and visionaries were also felicitated to show gratitude for their efforts to grow chess in India. Among these people was N Ramaraju who is Harika’s coach and who has trained all the grandmasters of Telangana. Both Arjun and Harika mentioned that he is the main reason for where they are today as he was always much more ambitious than the players. Ramaraju always believed that Arjun would become the top player and World Champion in the future.

Best Chess Coaches 2024

Ramaraju N, Sampath B, K Narasimha Rao

Best Chess Organizers

Subrahmanyam J, K S Prasad

J Subrahmanyam was felicitated for his consistency in organizing a chess tournament every second Saturday and Sunday for the past eighteen years. Arjun was one of the players who used to travel far to participate in these tournaments organized by Subrahmanyam.

Best Chess promoter of all time - V V Subramanyum

Meet the achievers from the event:

International Medal winners:

Samhita Pungavanam (Bronze,Commonwealth U10 Girls Chess Championship)

National Medal winners

Arjun Adireddy (Gold, 52nd National Junior (U19) Chess Championship Gujarat)

Sriram Adarsh Uppala (Gold,34th National U17 Chess Championship, Chandigarh) 

Kirthika B ((Silver,34th National U17 (W) Chess Championship, Chandigarh)

Samhita Pungavanam (Gold,National U9 (G) Chess Championship,Jharkhand)

Gade, Sharanya (Silver, 21st National Team (W) Chess championship, Dharamshala)

Velpula, Sarayu (Silver, 21st National Team (W) Chess championship, Dharamshala)

Mahati Alapati Sai (Silver, 21st National Team (W) Chess championship, Dharamshala)

Kirthika, B (Silver, 21st National Team (W) Chess championship, Dharamshala)

Modipalli, Deekshitha (Silver, 21st National Team (W) Chess championship, Dharamshala)

The grand felicitation event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Rs. 20,000 from the Bishan Singh Ji Family. They involved themselves in every detail of the event, so that the whole thing ran smoothly! CircleChess helped us with the tournament entries and pairings, and also sponsored the event with an amount of Rs. 5000. A special mention to FM FT Rishpal Singh, who made use of all his experience of organizing tournaments, playing and coaching. He made sure all the Telangana Stars get their appropriate recognition and support. 

Some other people we would like to mention are - Lakshmi Priyaa (founder of Life Purified), P R Srinivasan (director of Zero40 Brewing), CircleChess, SLAN, HCC, and the Shri Ram Academy, which provided the world-class venue. The event was further supported by key figures such as Mr. Avinash, Head of Sports & Fitness at TSRA, Vinoda Kailas, director and trustee of Pravaha Foundation, and Mr. Sreekar, co-founder of MGD1 Esports. 

Venue search!

We began our venue search by considering venues where we had previously held tournaments. The first option we considered was Olivemount School, Attapur a familiar location. However, our plans were disrupted when the school principal informed us at the last minute that the venue was not available due to a prior commitment on the same Saturday. This unexpected development was a significant setback just 4 days before the tournament. Consequently, we had to go back to square one in search of a different venue. We were forced to begin our venue search anew. FM & FT  Rishpal Singh took the initiative by messaging all schools and reaching out to Shri ram Academy After contacting the Sports Head, Mr. Avinash, we received a positive response.

Within just 40 minutes of our discussion, A meeting was quickly arranged, and the venue was finalized. Rishpal's determination, perseverance, and passion for chess shone through as he left no stone unturned to ensure this event would happen. After leaving no stone unturned, we find ourselves here today writing a report on an event that almost faced cancellation due to venue issues. We extend special thanks to Mr Rizwan - Head of the school, Mr Avinash head of sports and fitness,  and Mr Sunil head of operations for their belief in us and for providing us with a beautiful venue for our tournament.

Life purified 

LIFE PURIFIED is an Ayurvedic personal care brand on a mission to deliver toxin-free skin & haircare solutions for all. They revolutionize wellness by blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with advanced technologies like plant stem cell, nano, and plasma technology, creating products of exceptional purity and effectiveness. Founded in 2022, LIFE PURIFIED offers a wide range of products, from skincare and hair care to baby care, men's care, and makeup essentials. Certified by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, they are setting new standards in the industry with their sustainable, high-impact wellness solutions.

TT Lakshmi Priyaa is a seasoned professional with a diverse background and a deep routed passion for holistic wellness. Over the past 22 years she honed her skills and expertise across various industries, from corporate environments to the dynamic world of entrepreneurship.  She started an ayurvedic personal care startup dedicated to promoting well-being and authenticity.

Lakshmi Priyaa, with the titles of FIDE instructor and FIDE arbiter, served as the Manager/Coach for the Indian chess delegation that achieved multiple medals at the World Youth Championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016, which took place in UAE, South Korea, and Russia. For nearly 5 years, she was involved in a significant project focused on grassroots chess promotions. Mr. Vishveshwaran had a vision to popularize chess in every household and enhance the game at the grassroots level, which led to the project being named Grassroots Chess Promotions. In order to achieve this goal, he collaborated with the Internet Chess Club to make online chess accessible to the Indian chess community at an affordable cost. She played a key role in managing their operations in India and supporting Mr. Vishveshwaran in his endeavors, as he was occupied with working with players.Players such as Adhiban, Murali Kartikeyan, Vishnu Prasanna, and others went on to achieve the prestigious title of Grandmaster later in their careers.

Zero40

Zero40 is a craft brewery based in Hyderabad, renowned for its dedication to producing high-quality, artisanal beers. Established in 2016 by Managing Director Mr. Anoor, the brewery is also guided by Mr. P. R. Srinivasan, one of its directors.We meticulously track the company’s performance in relation to its goals, strategies, and expansion plans, utilizing metrics and reports to evaluate progress and make necessary adjustments.

Mr. Srinivasan and Rishipal Singh, an international chess player, grew up in the same community. Rishpal, FIDE master & FIDE trainer ,finished in Top 3 multiple times in junior category in the late 90's has a deep connection to the game. Their shared passion for chess led them to support and promote the sport from a young age. Rishpal has always been committed to advancing the legacy of chess by teaching chess , organizing tournaments and inspiring young players to reach their potential.

Since he has known Rishpal(Rishi) since childhood, Srinivasan always agrees to anything related to chess and supports without hesitation! When Rishpal Singh approached Lakshmi Priyaa and explained the plan to promote chess in Hyderabad,  she took no time to say YES!!

This event organised by ChessBase India and FM & FT Rishpal Singh witnessed the immense dedication of chess players from Telangana. The state is set to produce more champions in the coming future who will make India proud! This was an effort made possible by everyone who came together - we look forward to hosting this as an annual event.

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