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Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Moving chess pieces with just his eye, Abbas wins hearts, games with a smile
Panaji: They all wait eagerly for that smile. Seated beside Eshmuratov Abbas, his father holds his jaw firmly while the arbiter ensures his head stays still. Should either of them move their hand, the 30-year-old chess player from Uzbekistan finds himself distracted, and in some discomfort. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 30-year-old on a wheelchair can neither speak nor move his hands, yet when he is seated across the table facing his opponent, he counts himself as equal. In the first four rounds of the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula, the Uzbek has proved himself in good measure by winning two games. 'I may be handicapped, on a wheelchair, but I can think and play (chess) like a healthy person,' Abbas told TOI, communicating through his father Berdimurat, who used an iPad to type the message and then Google translate to ensure that the right message — from his son — was conveyed. 'I am happiest playing chess, it gives me a lot of joy.' For the first two days of the 24th World IPCA (International Physically Disabled Chess Association) Individual Chess Championship here, Abbas has been the cynosure of all eyes as his father carries him into the hall. Many have circled around the table trying to figure out how the player uses eye-retina movements to control the board. When it's time for Abbas to make a move, he simply looks at his father — facing a wall with the board behind him — and communicates through his eye-retina movement. Once the father notes what move Abbas wants to play, he jots it down and hands it over to the arbiter. 'When I move the piece, I wait for Abbas' reaction,' said arbiter Sunetra Dagare. 'If what I have moved, based on the note provided by his father, is the right one, he smiles. If not, he stays still. Since the father does not understand English, sometimes it's difficult to figure out what he has written, but we've managed so far.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Thursday, Dagare held Abbas' head and made the moves through the rounds. On one occasion, the Uzbek player wanted more time, but the chief arbiter stuck to the rules and did not make an exception. He soon gave up, losing his fourth-round clash against fellow countryman Gayimnazarov Bahadir. Abbas had previously won two of the first three rounds, both victories coming against Indian opponents, Vikas Chandra and Venkatesan J. FM Venkata Krishna Karthik proved too strong in the second round. Abbas was born with a disability and has been on a wheelchair for as long as he can remember, his father said. He cannot speak, or move his hands, but when he plays chess, the joy on his face is there for all to see. He took to chess 10 years ago and has grown in confidence with every tournament. 'Football is the other sport he follows closely on television,' his father said. A big fan of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, and now Spanish wonder boy Lamine Yamal, Abbas is a strong Barcelona supporter. He also cheered when Uzbekistan became the first ever Central Asian nation to qualify for the football World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Qatar in their final group game last month. 'Sometimes, I find it difficult to understand what he is trying to convey through his eye-retina movement. I then type the message on the phone or iPad and wait for his smile,' said Abbas' father. When Berdimurat lifted his son and walked into the hall for the first time, almost everyone was close to tears. Then, that smile changed it all.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
100 elite disabled players to feature at World Chess Championship
The 23rd IPCA World Individual Chess Championship 2024 was held in Gyumri, Armenia, last year Panaji: A total of 100 elite chess players from more than 20 countries are expected to take part in the 24th World IPCA (International Physically Disabled Chess Association) Individual Chess Championship in Dona Paula from Monday. The tournament celebrates inclusivity and competitive spirit and has attracted players from Russia, Israel, Poland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, South Africa, UAE, Sri Lanka, and others Positioned as part of Goa's 'Purple Fest', the championship dovetails with the state's mission to empower persons with disabilities through inclusive platforms. Organisers have described the event as a "unifying and empowering force," championing accessible global sporting excellence. The tournament is jointly organised by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Govt of Goa, State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Goa Chess Association for Persons with Disabilities, and the Chess Federation for Physically Disabled. Social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai is the chairman of the organising committee. Notable international participants include IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel), FM Molenda Marcin (Poland), FM Severino Sander (Philippines), IM Obodchuk Andrei (FIDE), FM Vit Vaclav Valenta (Czech Republic), besides India's CM Samarth Rao and FM Venkata Krishna Karthick, the reigning Asian Para Champion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Rao was selected to represent India in Goa following his second-place finish at the 5th National Chess Championship for Specially Abled Players in June. Three best federations overall, by ranking medals collected in all categories among men, women, juniors and girls, will receive trophies. For ranking, the number of gold medals will be considered first, and if there is a tie, then the number of silver medals, and if there is still a tie, the number of bronze medals will be added.
