Pune, 30th June 2023: The PYC Hindu Gymkhana is all set to host the highly anticipated PYC CHESS LEAGUE on 1st and 2nd July 2023 at the PYC Chess Hall. This chess league, organized for the first time by the club, will witness the participation of 55 skilled players representing seven teams, promising intense battles on the chessboard.
Mr. Kumar Tamhane, the President of PYC Hindu Gymkhana, expressed his enthusiasm for hosting various leagues in different sports and emphasized that this would be the club’s maiden chess league, extending opportunities to its members for active participation.
Highlighting the club’s commitment to members’ health and recreation, Mr. Sarang Lagu, the secretary of PYC Hindu Gymkhana, mentioned that the club already organizes five leagues in cricket, badminton, football, and carom. The inclusion of a chess league aims to provide yet another platform for members to come together, bond over a sport, and nurture their passion for chess.
The teams and players for the PYC CHESS LEAGUE were selected through an auction process. The top picks during the auction were Param Jalan, who will represent Marattha Warriors and was acquired for ₹46,000, followed by Rohit Deval (Kings 64) for ₹45,000, Nikhil Chitale (Nok99 Navigators) for ₹41,000, and Vijay Ogale (Goldfieldd Triedents) for ₹37,000. The event has garnered sponsorship support from Mr. Kapil Trimal of Seven Realty.
The seven teams participating in the tournament are:
- Goldfieldd Triedents (owned by Anil Chhajed)
- Kings 64 (owned by Pravin Bhalerao)
- Maratha Warriors (owned by Shirish Gandhi)
- Nok 99 Navigators (owned by Ashish Desai)
- Wadeshwar Wizards (owned by Swanand Bhave)
- 7 Knights (owned by Kapil Trimal)
- Golden Kings (owned by Niranjan Godbole)
The rules for the PYC CHESS LEAGUE are designed to ensure fair competition and an exciting spectacle for the chess enthusiasts. The tournament will be played in a 7-match round-robin format according to pairings, with a total of six boards participating in each match.
Each team will have three players playing with the white pieces (Board 1, 3, 5) and three players with the black pieces (Board 2, 4, 6). The top two teams from the round-robin phase will qualify for the final, with the color to be decided by a toss.
The rate of play for the tournament will be 15 minutes, with an additional 10 seconds per move, allowing for thrilling and time-bound matches.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the event, a dedicated tournament committee has been formed, comprising Amod Pradhan and Shirish Sathe.
As the PYC CHESS LEAGUE approaches, chess enthusiasts and sports fans in Pune are eagerly looking forward to witnessing this engaging and competitive chess extravaganza, where strategies and moves will determine the ultimate champions.
