Hyderabad Chess Centre launched by and for the chess lovers

by Kandi Ravi - 24/07/2021

Hyderabad has remained a sports loving city for a long time. The joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana witnessed many strong international chess tournaments. 17 chess enthusiasts and players decided to launch Hyderabad Chess Centre on 7th July 2021 which was inaugurated by K S Prasad, President of Telangana State Chess Association in presence of Guest of honour Mr. Jaikar Daniel, President, YMCA's of Greater Hyderabad and special invitees IM P D S Girinath and former National 'A' player G V Srinivasa Rao. The idea for the formation of this chess centre is to give a place to practice chess, exchange knowledge and information with the enthusiasts of the sport. All photographs in the article are by Hyderabad Chess Centre.

We have started Hyderabad Chess Centre (a place for practicing chess, a place to meet, exchange knowledge and information of chess) at YMCA Secunderabad. This is going to have many chess books and would help as a library also.

Hyderabad Chess Centre signboard

There are many chess coaching centres in Hyderabad, but a club or chess centre is not there in Hyderabad.

L to R: HCC President Kandi Ravi, Secretary Y Sameer Kumar and Treasurer M Rama Mohana Rao

The inspiration for this HCC was the famous Tal Chess Club, Chennai which was started in 1972 and was instrumental in the development of Chess culture and Chess boom in Chennai. Five-times world champion Vishy Anand also attended Tal Chess Club in his childhood and benefited a lot from there.

L to R: Y Sameer Kumar, K S Prasad, Jayakar Daniel, IM P D S Girinath, Kandi Ravi and G V Srinivasa Rao

We are 17 members who have come forward to bear the expenses by contributing money every month to run the centre and decided to start HCC with the idea of giving back to Chess. Some other members contributed one time amount, chess material etc.

Brand new chess board and pieces

The following founder members (17) planned, did brainstorming and worked for the last 45 days to make this idea work. The founder members of Hyderabad Chess Centre are:

1. Kandi Ravi

2. Y Sameer Kumar

3. V S N Murthy

4. M Rama Mohana Rao

5. V U Diwakar

6. P V Satya Narayana

7. Satyendranath

8. K Narasimha Rao

9. Srikanth Somaraju

10. Amithpal Singh

11. R Sriram

12. Chetan Sharma

13. Y Ramesh

14. Rajinesh

15. Santosh Kumar Kothuru

16. B N B Pavan

17. G Praveen Kumar

Other members who contributed one time amount/chess material etc. are

1. G Vijay Kumar

2. Katlamudi Prasad

3. Kilimi Rajasekhara Reddy

4. N Rama Raju

5. G Srinivas

6. Tejavath Naresh

Later FM Kandi Ramu joined as a Special member and FM Rishpal Singh and P Ramakrishna joined as ordinary members. With the help and continuous work of the above, HCC became a reality.

Players enjoying a game of chess at the Hyderabad Chess Centre

HCC was inaugurated on Wednesday 7th July 2021 by Chief guest Mr. K S Prasad, President, Telangana State Chess Association in the presence of Guest of honour Mr. Jaikar Daniel, President YMCA's of Greater Hyderabad and special invitees IM P D S Girinath and former National A player G V Srinivasa Rao.

Players and parents awaiting the inauguration ceremony

Mr. K S Prasad inaugurates the Hyderabad Chess Centre

TSCA President, K S Prasad (left) makes the inaugural moves with Jayakar Daniel (right) President, YMCAs of Greater Hyderabad

After ribbon cutting and inauguration meeting was over, a Simultaneous Chess display was performed by FM S Rishpal Singh. He played simultaneous with 16 players. He won eleven games, drew with four and lost only one game. Players drew with Rishi are Surya Alakanti (1384), A K Raju (1309), Pranay Akula, and Murali Mohan (1309), Sohan Katragadda - an unrated player beat Rishpal.

FM FT Rishpal Singh playing simultaneous exhibition matches

All 16 players participated in Simultaneous match were gifted with a book Sampoorna Chadarangam worth Rs. 345. Those who attended the inaugural function were provided with snacks and lunch.

HCC Office bearers:

President - Kandi Ravi

Secretary - Y Sameer Kumar

Treasurer - M Rama Mohana Rao

Vice President - K Narasimha Rao and P V Satya Narayana

Joint Secretary - Y Ramesh and Chetan Sharma

Photo Gallery:

Kandi Ravi delivers his speech

Chess coach and player SVC Chakravarthi playing a friendly game against IM PDS Girinath

L to R: Rajinesh, Sriram,V S N Murthy, K Narsimha Rao, K S Prasad, IM P D S Girinath, Satyendranath, Srikanth Somaraju, Kandi Ravi, Y Sameer Kumar and Y Ramesh

L to R: M Rama Mohana Rao, Treasurer HCC, Kandi Ravi, President HCC, Y Sameer Kumar, Secretary HCC, K Narasimha Rao, Vice President HCC, P V Satya Narayana, Vice President HCC

K Narasimha Rao donating two Chess Clocks to HCC

Two minutes of silence was observed in respect to the frontline warriors who lost their lives because of Covid-19 pandemic

Former National 'A' player - G V Srinivasa Rao was felicitated with a bouquet and memento by Kandi Ravi

IM PDS Girinath was felicitated with a bouquet and memento by Rajinesh

Jayakar Daniel, President of YMCAs of Greater Hyderabad, was felicitated with bouquet and memento by Sameer Kumar

K S Prasad, President of Telangana State Chess Association, got felicitated with bouquet and memento by K Narasimha Rao

HCC plans to bring a positive change in Hyderabad Chess culture and hopes it helps in making strong players bringing name and fame to HCC, Hyderabad, Telangana and India.

About the Author

Kandi Ravi is a FIDE Instructor, Senior National Arbiter, Arena International Master, FIDE rated player and a member of South Central Railway chess team. He is working in Railways at Secunderabad and also the President of HCC.

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