Edify School and Cuddalore Chess Academy Guinness World Record Children Chess Festival on 10th &11th

Edify School and Cuddalore Chess Academy jointly conducted the Guinness World Record Children Chess Tournament under the aegis of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Cuddalore District Chess Association on 10th & 11th March, 2018 at Edify School, Vazhapattu, Cuddalore District.

Every one will be glad to know that our Iconic Personality Super Grand Master Viswanathan Anand is the Brand Ambassador of the great Edify School spread across the country. Because of that goodwill, Edify School at Cuddalore, came out to popularize the brain Game of Chess at Cuddalore by erecting a mammoth pandhal, on the football Ground and Volley Ball Court to accommodate as many as 2500 players. Tables and chairs were systematically arranged. Water facility was available aplenty. Mobile Rest / Wash Rooms in the form of most modern cabin were made available. Even Fire Extinguishers and Ambulance vehicles were kept ready for the asking. The arrangements inside the Edify School were beyond compare, even to beat the standards of any National event.

The District level Children Chess festival consisted of Eleven categories of Boys & Girls (21 Categories), Under-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Boys & Girls and Open. The Cash prize offered for Open was fixed at Rs.21,000/-. The total number of 1000 Trophies and Medals which were on the show, were all eye catching. Entry fee for children was fixed as low as Rs.20/- while no Entry Fee was charged for Govt. & Govt. aided Schools and Colleges. A total of 1720 players, mostly from Govt. & Govt. aided Schools and Colleges participated.

This is a historic moment for Cuddalore Chess as this tournament proved to be a boon to every chess player from Govt. & Govt. aided Schools and Colleges in Cuddalore.

My Deputy Chier Arbiter GG Sathiesh FIDE Arbiter accompanied by 6 System Arbiters, 32 Sector Arbiters, 27 Assistant Arbiters, 22 School Staff and also many more volunteers worked for the smooth conduct and success of this mega tournament. ……………….2

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The tournament was played as per the Swiss format, comprising 7 rounds. The thinking time was fixed at 30 minutes each. All the participants wore face-mask of the illustrious iconic legend Viswanathan Anand while playing their games in that mammoth venue of this historic tournament.

The proceedings of this mega event was keenly inspected by the officials of the World Record Research Foundation, who proudly declared this event as a WORLD RECORD. Certainly this is a matter of great pride and honour for our mother land INDIA, All India Chess Federation in general and the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, in particular.

Spot certificate was issued by the World Record Authority which vouches for the fool-proof organization of the entire event right from the beginning.

The prize distribution function began at 4.30 p.m on the concluding day i.e., 11th March. The Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Edify School Mr. S. Srinivasan presided over the function. Thiru M.C. Sampath, Hon'ble Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu, was the Chief Guest of the occasion, who gave away the prizes to the successful participants and Mrs. S. Indhumathi Srinivasan, Director of Edify School delivered a vote of thanks.

I also thank the volunteers of the Cuddalore Chess Academy but for whose major support, my role as a Chief Arbiter of this magnum opus event would not have been successful.

“It is our honor to serve Cuddalore District chess players”, said Mr. Prem Kumar, the Secretary of Cuddalore Chess Academy.

I am grateful to TNSCA for the honour and trust that they deposed on me to organize this World Record Chess Tournament.

Yours sincerely,

S.Balaraman I.A.,

Chief Arbiter.