“Young children should start playing and make India proud”: Nine year old Shaiva Mesariya
HYDERABAD: Players as young as nine and as old as 77 sat across tactile chessboards at the Devnar Foundation in Begumpet on Tuesday as the Hyderabad Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament for the Blind began with more than 300 participants from 18 states. Organisers said the turnout, up from around 240 last year, makes this one of the country’s biggest competitions for visually challenged chess players.
Nine‑year‑old Shaiva Mesariya from Gujarat, one of the youngest participants, said: “Young children should start playing and make India proud.” Shaiva has played since the age of four and is aiming to earn her official rating.
Former DRDO chairman G. Satheesh Reddy, who inaugurated the tournament, noted the wide age range. “There is no age bar. People of any age are able to participate,” he said, urging players to compete internationally.
National champions including Soumendra from Delhi (FIDE rating 1896) and Megha Chakraborty from Kolkata (1658) are among the participants. Megha, a national women’s champion and Asian Para Games medallist, said blind chess needs wider support and visibility. Soumendra, who won bronze at the 2023 Asian Para Games and the national title earlier this year, said he is determined to finally win at Devnar after five years of trying.
Founder chairman of Devnar Foundation for the Blind Dr A. Saibaba Goud said the five‑day tournament ensures every participant plays till the end. “After this tournament, the top players will be selected for the international competitions,” he said.
