As many as 297 chess players are participating in the five-day Udupi National FIDE-rated Open Chess Tournament, organised by the Udupi District Chess Association and other organisations at the T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), which began here on Wednesday.
R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, who inaugurated the tournament, said that chess players should not just be mentally but also physically fit.
Most of the chess players took part in sports activities such as swimming and marathon. Participation in physical activities kept their minds alert. “Keep pushing your intellectual boundaries,” he said.
R.C. Natarajan, Director of TAPMI, elaborated on the history of chess. He said that the game was India’s contribution to the world. Mere memorisation of moves was not enough and players should keep practising regularly, he added.
Better still, they should install chess softwares and practise regularly to hone their skills. “You should be gracious victory and loss,” he said.
H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor of Manipal University, said that both intelligence and concentration were required for chess players. They should take inspiration from international players such as Vishwanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy. K. Suresh Prabhu, District Lions Governor, Shridhar Shenava, District Lions Vice-Governor, K. Rajaopal Shenoy, president of the Udupi District Chess Association, and others were present.
