Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation yet again won the bid for three tournaments in Nagpur with GH Raisoni Memorial All India FIDE Classical, Rapid & Blitz Rating Chess Tournament in May.

The foundation is organising one of the biggest and the most prestigious chess tournaments titled GH Raisoni Memorial All India FIDE Classical, Rapid & Blitz Rating Chess Tournament, in Nagpur from 19^th to 26^th May at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Management Studies and Research, near Deeksha Bhoomi, Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur.

The tournament has been recognised by various global, national, state and district levels like World Chess Federation – Federation International Des Echecs (FIDE), All India Chess Federation (AICF), All Marathi Chess Association (AMCA) and Nagpur District Chess Association (NDCA).

The tournament will be conducted in all three official formats of the game. While the classical tournament would be held between 19^th May to 24^th May, the Rapid & Blitz tournament would be held between 25^th to 26^th May this year. The widely celebrated chess festival would provide a huge opportunity for players across India to get international rating in all three formats.

Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation, spear-headed by Nagpur based social worker Bhushan Shriwas, is working hard for the success of the tournament. A dedicated team led by Dr Mrinalini Naik of Raisoni Group, Vice President of AICF Manoj Itkelwar, Secretary of NDCA KK Barat and Director of Dr Ambedkar Institute of Management Studies and Research Dr Nirzar Kulkarni too have extended their cooperation for the tournament. A recognised team of Arbiters, headed by International Arbiter Swapnil Bansod, would be conducting and monitoring the upcoming tournament.

When we spoke to Shriwas, he said, We want to make Nagpur the chess capital of India and for that, our foundation is working hard. Nagpur has had quite many talented national and international chess players in the past; we want to develop more such players by encouraging and rewarding their talent.

Shriwas said, In all, there are total 261 prizes, 111 cash prizes and 150 trophies for players. Out of the total cash prize Rs 4,00,000 for the tournament, the winner would get a cash prize of Rs 50,000 for the Classical event and Rs 21,000 for the Rapid event. Also, cash prize would be given to top six unrated players, three rating groups. Cash prizes would be given to top three for Best Veteran, Best Nagpur and Best Female Player.

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