Latest news with #WorldChessChampionshipforPersonswithDisabilities
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Players with disabilities checkmate odds with chess spirit
The World IPCA (International Physically Disabled Chess Association) Chess Championship was held in Asia for the first time Panaji: It's not winning but taking part that counts. It's a maxim made famous by the founder of the Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who said, 'The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well. ' Nowhere were the words more apt than at the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula, which ended on Wednesday. Just getting here, and taking part, was an achievement for many of the players. 'I got to learn a lot,' V S Sobethaa, a 12-year-old player with locomotor disability, told TOI. 'My dream is to become a grandmaster (the highest title in the sport), so I make it a point to train at least two hours every day. Chess provides me with a lot of joy.' For many like Sobethaa, who hails from Tamil Nadu, chess is more than just a sport. It helps her assimilate, and like she did at Dona Paula, win plaudits too. The youngster picked up a silver in rapid (U-15 category) and bronze in blitz. No wonder her twin, V S Shokshithaa, admitted that her sister was the better player. There were other 'success' stories too. Take Eshmuratov Abbas for example. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo On a wheelchair, the player from Uzbekistan plays by indication of moves through movement of his retinas, with his father holding his chin for support. Abbas soon became the star attraction at the tournament with several people flocking to the venue to see him play. He had an impressive five wins from nine rounds and finished 35th among 97 participants. His achievement did not go unnoticed as chief minister Pramod Sawant handed him a special prize. Khlypovka Lada, a teenager from Russia, also proved to be a fine example of grit and determination. She missed four rounds due to surgery and hospitalisation, yet playing five rounds from her hotel bed, she maintained incredible focus to maintain an all-win record and pick up gold in the women's wheelchair category. She left Goa for the airport in an ambulance. 'It is only because of my love and respect for the participants that I made time to attend this special ceremony, even while the assembly session is in progress,' said CM Sawant. 'I congratulate all the winners, participants, and support teams from across the globe for showcasing determination and excellence throughout the championship.' FIDE flag countries comprising Russia and Belarus won 21 medals, which included 12 golds, to finish on top. India also picked up 21 medals but with just five golds had to settle for the second spot, ahead of Kazakhstan (nine medals, two golds) who finished third.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sargissyan rewarded with gold for persistence in final round
Sargis Sargissyan won the final round to finish with 7.5 points from nine rounds, good enough to make him the championship winner Panaji: On the night before the final round of the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula, Sargis Sargissyan could barely sleep. The Armenian FIDE Master (FM) was the third favourite to win the championship. Nothing was in his hands. Even if he had won the concluding round clash against FM Valenta Vit Vaclav, he would not be assured of the title. After all, there were two others -- Marcin Molenda and Ilia Lipilin – ahead of him. Playing on the top board, a victory for either of the top two would make them champion. As luck would have it, it ended in a predictable draw. Sargissyan's eyes lit up as he watched the two shake hands on the first board and agree to a draw. But there was work to be done. It took him close to four hours, but the Armenian persisted and eventually swept aside the challenge of Vaclav to emerge champion with 7.5 points in nine rounds. Molenda (Poland) settled for the silver, while Alimzhan Ayapov (Kazakhstan) took home the bronze after defeating second-seeded IM Andrei Gurbanov (Israel) in the concluding round. 'I never lost hope of securing a win,' Sargissyan later told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like China's humanoid robots generate more football excitement than their human counterparts CNA Read More Undo 'I knew a draw would not help me, so had to force a win. Even in the previous round, my opponent kept offering me a draw, but I refused, knowing I can convert this into a win.' In the penultimate round, Sargissyan had shown sharp tactical prowess to defeat Anfinogenov Artem of Russia in just 22 moves. For his belief alone, Sargissyan deserved the top honour. At the last IPCA World Individual Chess Championship at home, Sargissyan had seen the title slip out of his grasp as he settled for the bronze medal, behind Alimzhan Ayapov and Sander Severino. 'Given how this victory was achieved, this tastes sweeter,' said Sargissyan, who had also won the FIDE World Chess Championship for People with Disabilities, held online in 2021. 'The competition here was very tough. Every game was difficult. I am happy that I could finish on top.' F or Molenda (7 points), the Blitz winner, it wasn't a happy ending. Neither for Lipilin (7 points), who had won the Rapid event last week. Among Indian players, J. Samarth Rao and Audietya Aazadh Pamarthi scored six points each, securing 14th and 15th places. 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.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Para chess: Molenda takes on Liplin for gold on exciting final day
After eight rounds of fluctuating fortunes, the champion will be decided on Wednesday morning Panaji: The battle for gold in the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula is going down to the wire. On the final morning, three players will believe they have a chance to become champion as IM Molenda Marcin (Poland), FM Sargissyan Sargis (Armenia) and FM Lipilin Llia (Russia), all with 6.5 points each, jointly share the lead. Most eyes will be on the first board as Molenda takes on the might of Lipilin in a decisive clash, while Sargissyan has been drawn to play FM Valenta Vit Vaclav (Czech Republic). On Tuesday, IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel) drew with Molenda in 16 moves in a Nimzo India defence opening, while on the second board, Liplin defeated FM Ayapov Alimzhan (Kazakhstan) in 55 moves against Caro kann defence opening. On Board 3, Sargissyan kept himself in the hunt for the title after putting it across FM Soltanov Serik (Kazakhstan) in Reti Kings Indian attack opening in 65 moves. Sargissyan stuttered in the middle with two draws from three games but has recovered well to pick up wins from two of his last three. Dzenisenia Mikhail (Russia), Ayapov Alimzhan (Kazahkstan), Anfinogenov Artem (Russia), FM Valenta Vit Vaclav, Glazar Domagoj (Croatia) and IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel) are in close contention with six points. CM Samarth Rao and FM Venkata Krishna Karthik K of India, along with Gedgafov Chamal (Russia), are with 5.5 points each. The final round will be played on Wednesday morning.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
After surgery, Russian teenager returns to compete from her bed, wins both rounds
Khlypovka Lada missed four rounds due to surgery and hospitalisation but still has two points from two games at the championship Panaji: Khlypovka Lada refused to give up. The Russian teenager had a fall after the opening ceremony of the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities in Dona Paula last week. She needed surgery and three days of hospitalisation for a fractured leg. But instead of simply recuperating after being discharged, she decided to compete from her hotel bed. 'It would have been a shame to come here and not play,' Lada, who is a wheelchair player, told TOI, using Google translate to communicate. 'My mother (who is accompanying) said it's okay (if you don't play), and the decision is up to me. But I didn't want to give up so easily.' In keeping with the tournament's spirit of inclusion and empathy, the wheelchair player was allowed to play from her room itself. Lada remained on the bed while her opponent sat on the chair across the chess board, with two arbiters – officials who oversees matches and ensure that the rules are followed -- monitoring the game. The 16-year-old first won against Dushyant Pal (India), and after missing four rounds, picked up another win against Iniyan Gopinathan in the sixth. She is next drawn to face Kanishri R P (India) on Monday 'My leg hurts a bit, the pain is there, but I can bear this and play. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo We went to a good hospital here, the doctors treated us well and I must say there are very friendly people in Goa,' said Lada. Lada arrived in Goa last week with plenty of expectations. At the last World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities in Armenia, the Russian teenager had won plenty of honours: first among junior girls, second among women in a wheelchair and third overall. In blitz, Lada achieved the best result among all participating women. In Goa, it did not go according to plan. 'Because of this injury, I missed out on the chance to take part in the blitz and rapid (championships). I missed four rounds too. Now there are not too many rounds left but I will keep fighting till the end,' she said. Born with a genetic disability and on a wheelchair since age six, Lada does not know much about India, just that 'it's the birthplace of chess,' a sport she fell in love after watching the 2016 World Championship title clash between Magnus Carlsen and his childhood rival, Sergey Karjakin. Her idols include Mikhail Botvinnik, generally regarded as the Patriarch of the Soviet Chess School, five-time world champion Carlsen, Anatoly Karpov, at his peak the highest-rated player in the world for over 100 months, and Alexander Alekhine, who is reported to have played some of the finest games the world has ever seen. 'Chess is a great sport, playing really makes me happy,' said Lada. 'Here, I can't go outside (in the hall) and play which makes me sad, but I will try and win from the bed itself.' That should make her happy, again.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- 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.
