ABDUL JABBAR BENEFIT MAHARASHTRA STATE

FIDE RATING CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

 

Abdul Jabbar, a veteran of long standing from Nagpur was born in 1949. He possessed a natural talent for the game and started playing chess when he was barely 10 years old. By the time he was 20, he was already participating in National B Championship. He soon stamped his class and was ranked 6^th in National A Championship at Ahmedabad in 1973 and occupied the 5^th rank next year in Championship held at Rourkela in 1974. His exploits won him due recognition and he became the first chess player from Maharashtra to receive the Chhatrapati Award in 1974. He was the undisputed number one player in early seventies having won the Maharashtra State Championship for 3 consecutive years in 1975, 1976 and 1977 held at Mumbai, Gondia and Aurangabad respectively.

 IM Shri Anup Deshmukh put the proposal for organisation of benefit tournament for Abdul Jabbar to Nagpur District Chess Association. The association took further steps to organise the tournament at Nagpur and meet many chess players and chess lovers. All these persons help us in contributing benefit fund to be raised for Abdul Jabbar. Mayor of Nagpur City Smt. Mayatai Iwnate instantly accepted our request and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5.00 lacs (Rs. 2.50 lacs for Prize fund and Rs. 2.50 lacs for benefit of Jabbar). The Association have contributed Rs. 2.50 lacs for Abdul, thus the Benefit Fund to be given to Shri Abdul will be Rs. 5.00 lacs.

 The tournament is being conducted from 8^th of June 2008 at Gulmohar Hall, Pandey Layout, Khamla Road, Nagpur. The air cooled, spacious and decent hall is sponsored by Shri Ashish Kalode, proprietor of the hall for the tournament. The last round is on 14^th June at 9.00 a.m. followed by Prize Distribution function at 4.00 p.m. The tournament is being played in 10 rounds. In all 262 players from all over Maharashtra participating in the tournament of which 89 are rated players. 3 IMs and 1 FM are also participating in the tournament.

 The tournament was inaugurated on 8^th June at 10.00 a.m. at the hands of Mayor, Nagpur City Smt. Mayatai Iwnate. The function was presided over by Shri Atalbahadur Singh. On the occasion the dignitaries present on the dias were Additional Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation Shri Atul Patne, Leader of ruling party, NMC Shri Anil Sole, Corporator of Pandy Layout Shri Prakash Totwani, Shri V. K. Trivedi, Patron NDCA, Shri Manoj Itkelwar, President NDCA, Shri K. K. Barat, Secretary NDCA, Shri T. N. Bahadure, Chief Arbiter, Shri A. A. Bade, Technical Advisor Vidarbha Chess Association.

 Mayor Smt. Iwnate and Additional Commissioner NMC Shri Atul Patne assured to sponsor in the forthcoming Commonwealth Chess Championship to be held at Nagpur from 27^th September to 6^th October 2008.

 PRIZE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION 14-06-2008

The 10^th and last round of the tournament was played on 14.06.2008 at 9.00 a.m. There was fight upto the last second for the championship. Shri Sohan Phadke of Pune won the tournament.

 In the prize distribution function, prizes were awarded at the hands of Mayor Smt. Mayatai Iwnate. The function was presided over by Shri Atalbahadur Singh, Chairman Organising Committee. On the occasion the dignitaries present on the dias were Shri Krishna Khopde, Charman Standing Committee, NMC, Leader of ruling party, NMC Shri Anil Sole, Corporator of Pandy Layout Shri Prakash Totwani, AICF Secretary Shri D. V. Sunder, President Commonwealth Chess Association Shri Ravindra Dongre, Shri V. K. Trivedi, Patron NDCA, Shri Manoj Itkelwar, President NDCA, Shri K. K. Barat, Secretary NDCA, Shri T. N. Bahadure, Chief Arbiter. All the dignitaries were given memento in the remembrance of this great event.

 The function was conducted in the sentimental touch. With the help of Nagpur Municipal Corporation an amount of Rs. 5.00 lacs given to Shri Abdul Jaggar. All the family members of Shri Jabbar were present on the occasion. Shri Jabbar and his wife were felicitated with Shawl and Shriphal. One of Nagpur city girls Ku. Soumya Shrivastava donated her prize fund to Shri Jabbar and veteran player Shri S. T. Sahasrabuddhe from Mumbai also donated his prize fund to Jabbar.

 The function was conducted by Shri A. P. Joshi with vote of thanks.