Parivartan: Transforming lives through chess
From June 19-21, FIDE and IndianOil Corporation, in collaboration with the All India Chess Federation and the Ministry of Justice of India, organized the second in-person Chess for Freedom Conference in Pune, India. It was a fitting location for the event as Yerwada Central Jail, a high-security prison in Pune and the largest prison in South Asia, housing over 5000 prisoners, is also famous for its chess players. In October 2023, the Yerawada Central Prison team won the gold medal at the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. The conference attendees had a chance to learn how these impressive results have been reached since the chess project was first introduced to Yerwada inmates in 2021. “Parivartan – Prison to Pride” is a pioneering initiative designed to empower the most disadvantaged and vulnerable group of people – prison inmates. Launched in 2021 under the leadership of IndianOil’s Chairman Mr. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, “Parivartoan” has grown significantly, impacting 4,100 inmates in 83 prisons, including Yerwada. “IndianOil has been leading a number of social stewardship programs across the country. “Parivartan” initiative aims to build confidence and improve the well-being of prison inmates through sports. The program is in sync with IndianOil’s core value of care and will complement our ongoing initiative of employing prison inmates and people who have completed their time in prison as customer attendants at our fuel stations,” says Mr Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of IndianOil. IndianOil, in collaboration with state police prison departments, provides coaches to train inmates in various sports, including chess, badminton, table tennis, kho-kho and basketball. The chess program boasts renowned coaches like GMs Abhijit Kunte and Surya Sekhar Ganguly, who emphasize the positive impact of sports in channeling energy and transforming lives. The support for Parivartan has extended beyond the oil giant, with renowned sports personalities contributing to this initiative. The chess courses in Indian jails are supervised by experienced coaches, including GMs Abhijit Kunte and Surya Sekhar Ganguly, WGMs Eesha Karavade, Soumya Swaminathan, Padmini Rout, to name a few. Coaches involved in the program stress its significance, noting that channelling the energy of individuals in prison through sports can positively transform their lives. “It’s heartening to witness the success and positive changes Parivartan brings about. Being a part of such initiatives fills me with immense pride,” says GM Abhijit Kunte. In 2023, following Parivartan’s success, the “Nayi Disha” program extended benefits to over 2200 young inmates at 45 Juvenile correction centers across India, building sportsmanship and camaraderie in the process. In October 2023, the Children Correctional Home team from Bhopal, India, achieved a remarkable victory by securing the gold medal in the Youth Category at the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. Coaching has also been introduced in women’s prisons, beginning with Tihar Jail, and extended to 15 juvenile centers for girls. These efforts have introduced chess to over 6,000 inmates across 128 facilities in India. IndianOil’s “Parivartan” and “Nayi Disha” have gained global recognition for their social impact receiving the SportstarAces Chairperson Award 2023 for sports for social good and the prestigious Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for Thought Leadership. Mr Shrikant Madhav Vaidya was also awarded the “Friend of FIDE” title. The award recognizes IndianOil’s valuable contribution to the FIDE Chess for Freedom program and the promotion of sport as a tool for social transformation in India. “The mission of the Parivartan project by IndianOil goes beyond the chessboard,” says Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President. “It is a testament to the possibilities that lie within us all. It gives the right to a better life and a second chance for everyone. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to IndianOil and all those involved in the project as well as to players taking part in it.” With the 4th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners approaching (October 8-10), “Parivartan” and “Nayi Disha” students are already preparing to compete for medals in all three sections—men, women, and youth. To learn more about the Chess for Freedom program and other chess initiatives for prisoners, visit chessforfreedom.fide.com. Text and photos: Anna Volkova
Nine new female teams to compete in 45th Chess Olympiad
The Women’s Commission National Female Team Initiative, a significant step in promoting women’s chess, reached its penultimate stage on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Led by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) with the support of FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG), this initiative aims to help countries establish female teams for the upcoming 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The online closing ceremony celebrated the successful completion of the first phase of training for these new Olympiad participants. Notable figures like Khader Sami (Chair, Trainers Commission) and Jose Carillo (President, Chess Confederation of America) joined coaches and new Olympiad participants. The training program, running from March 15, 2024, to June 16, 2024, featured an impressive lineup of coaches, including FM Ricko Depaune, WFM Anu Bayer, FI Ryan Blackwood, WIM Denise Bouah, IM Jomo Pitterson, WIM Natalija Popova, WIM Deborah Richards Porter, WIM Knarik Mouradian, and FI Russel Porter. Their expertise and guidance have been instrumental in preparing these teams for their international debut. The initiative, spearheaded by WOM Chair Anastasia Sorokina and WOM Councilor Tris-Ann Richards, along with team members Yilmaz Kartal, Paris Klerides, Akua Kosife Esse, and Monalisha Khamboo, began in August 2023. It has successfully fostered the development of female teams from nine countries: Liechtenstein, Guernsey, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Nauru, and the Cayman Islands. St. Kitts and Nevis female team – one of the first-timers in the upcoming Olympiad This initiative provides these countries with a team captain and financial travel support, ensuring they are well-prepared to compete in the Olympiad for the first time. Looking ahead, the final stages of the initiative will involve collaboration with the FIDE Trainer Commission (TRG) to enroll these countries in the Olympiad Training Support Program (July-August 2024). This program is set to provide further support and resources to these debutants. This initiative represents a significant step towards gender equality in chess, empowering female players from underrepresented countries to participate in one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Indjic and Chelushkina triumph at 2024 Serbian Championship
Aleksandar Indjic and Irina Chelushkina emerged victorious at the 2024 Serbian Championship. Aleksandar successfully defended his title and won his fifth overall, while Irina lifted the trophy for the second time. The 18th Serbian Championship 2024 took place from June 17–25 in the Fantastico Exclusive Hotel in Senta. The open and women’s tournaments ran concurrently. Both competitions were 10-player round robins with classical time control. In the open competition, Aleksandar Indjic seized the lead after Round 4 and maintained his top position to the very end. Facing top seed Alexey Sarana with black pieces in the final round, he displayed exceptional defensive skills, securing a draw and the championship title with an excellent 7/9 score. Robert Markus and Alexey Sarana finished on 6/9 and tied for second place. Just like a year ago, Robert Markus took silver (this time, thanks to a better tiebreak). The rating-favorite Alexey Sarana had to settle for bronze. The champion and the runner-up became the only unbeaten players in the tournament. Final standings Open: 1 GM Indjic, Aleksandar 2602 7 2 GM Markus, Robert 2587 6 3 GM Sarana, Alexey 2712 6 4 GM Popovic, Dusan 2486 5 5 GM Ivanisevic, Ivan 2536 5 6 GM Perunovic, Milos 2531 4½ 7 GM Atalik, Suat 2450 4 8 GM Kovacevic, Aleksandar 2482 3½ 9 IM Radovanovic, Nikola 2441 3 10 GM Muratovic, Alija 2513 1 The women’s section witnessed Irina Chelushkina’s dominance. Conceding only two draws, she finished a clear 1.5 points ahead of the runner-up, WIM Adela Velikic. WIM Jovana Srdanovic earned the bronze medal with 6/9 points. Final standings Women: 1 WGM Chelushkina, Irina 2134 8 2 WIM Velikic, Adela 2290 6½ 3 WIM Srdanovic, Jovana 2134 6 4 WGM Mandura, Tijana 2224 5 5 WIM Djukic, Sandra 2118 5 6 WGM Eric, Jovana 2184 5 7 WFM Vujovic, Vera 2154 4½ 8 WFM Bukhteeva, Viktoria 2070 3 9 Stankovic, Andrea 1990 2 10 Radenkovic, Mila 1870 0 The chief arbiter IA Vladica Andrejic and the deputy chief arbiter, Zoltan Helenji, officiated the competition, while IO, IA Nebojša Baralić, acted as the championship director. At the closing ceremony, the president of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Dragan Lazić, and the owner of the “Fantastico Exclusive” hotel, Šandor Lerinc, presented cups and medals to the top finishers. All the participants received gifts from the host and the Serbian Chess Federation (ŠSS). Official website: serbiachess.org/ Photos: Šahovski savez Srbije