Asian chess for the blind, India, Bangladesh start with a lead

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 25, 2017: Reports state that at the end of the second round of the IBCA Asian Chess Championship for the Visually Challenged 2017, Husain Ejaz (Bangladesh) Kishan Gangolli, Ashwin K. Makwana and Yudhajeet De (India), were in joint lead with two points apiece at the Dr. T.M.A. Pai Hall Manipal on March 24,Friday.

On top board Swapnil Shah of India played with white pieces against Ejaz, the player with the best FIDE rating in the championship and top seed here.

Ejaz opted for the Sicilian defence played carefully to take advantage of Swapnil’s lapses and trapped a piece on move number 22. He continued to put pressure. At that stage, Swapnil tried to save his game but it was too late and surrendered on the 33rd move.

On second board Kishan Gangolli of (Karnataka) played with white pieces against Soundarya Kumar Pradhan of Odisha. Kishan opted for Bogo Indian opening and had space advantage from the beginning. Soundarya, while defending the position, played passively. Kishan, a seasoned campaigner and National A champion for the visually challenged four consecutive times, forced Soundraya to surrender on the 34th move.

The games are being broadcast on Radio Chess application online. This is the first time in the history of the visually challenged that a move by move live audio commentary is being broadcast. Also, the games have been live telecasted in Monroi.com and Follow Chess App and also links photographs are available in the All India Chess Federation for the Blind website: www.aicfb.in