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Goa State Chess Association
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Goans had been introduced to Chess a long time ago. Certainly by 1861, when the Goan writer and statesman Francisco Luis Gomes wrote to his friend, the french intellectual Lamartine , "I belong to the race that composed Mahabharata and invented Chess, two works which bear in them something of the eternal and the sublime". Although India had given birth to Chess in the form of the game called "Chaturanga", the rules changed as it was taken to the west, first by Persian who named it "Shatranj" and later by the Europeans who added rules like Castling. The modern form of the game was probably brought back to India by the Portuguese , who called it "Xadrej".
Chess was an ideal game with which to pass the monsoon months. But it turned from pastime to competitive sport when big town Clubs like 'Associacao Academica de Liceu Central, Clube Nacional' and 'Clube Vasco da Gama' began organising tournaments from the 1940's. Chess activities increased after liberation in 1961 supported by organisation like the Indo - Soviet Cultural Society and C.E.S.I.C.
In 1973 the All Goa Daman & Diu Chess Association was formed under the presidentship of P. K. Dias in the first State Tournament P. K. George of Margao became Champion ahead of Gerald D'Souza of Mapuca. Unfortunately this organisation became defunct. Then in 1977 a group of enthusiasts who had banded together as the Vasco Chess Association approached the State Council and revived the State Body with Dr. R. V. Deo as president and with the Late N. Sethuraman, the Late J. S. Birje, P. P. Insulkar, M. R. Naik and D. G. Bhagat as its founder Members. Their first tournament held at Janata Vachanalya at Vasco was a roaring success. More than 200 players from all over Goa turned up on 2nd October 1977 for the first round and it was a heroic task for the fledgling association to manage. Nevertheless they stayed the course and at the end of the knockout tournament Adolf Pinto Calaco emerged champion beating Pulican Mathews in the final.
Since 1978 the Goa State Chess Association began regularly holding tournaments in all Categories of events announced by the All India Chess Federation and have been sending teams to the Nationals. Goa has itself hosted 5 National Level Tournaments. The most memorable of these were the National Sub - Junior of 1983 and National Junior of 1984 both of which were won by V. Anand who went on to become World Champion. The biggest event to be held in Goa was World Junior Chess Championship of 2004. Besides this A. N. Naik Memorial FIDE rated Open Chess Tournament was held in 2000 & 2002 at Margao during the tenure of President Ashish Keni & Secretary Suhas Asnodkar. A number of excellent Chess Players have also emerged most notably T. S. Venkataraman who won the CUSAT Open in Kerala in 2004.
Since the inception of G.S.C.A Chess in Goa has been growing steadily. The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs has recognised it and conducts regular Inter School & Higher Secondary Tournaments. Goa University also Organises an Inter Collegiate Tournament. The Sports Authority of Goa has appointed Coaches to train players. Now private chess coaches have also become active in Goa. The success of Bhakti Kulkarni & Ivana Furtado at the Asian Youth Chess Championship at Tehran is proof that the catch them young policy is working.
One of the reasons for the sustained popularity of Chess is the emergence of Clubs supporting it. There is now a regular chess circuit in Goa with tournaments been held in places as diverse as Pernem, Porvorim, Sanvordem, Cortalim & Moira besides the major towns. The most active of these Clubs has been undoubtedly been the Bambolim Chess Club run under the able stewardship of Arvind Mhamal and V. Sivaswamy apart from open tournaments & Children Chess Festivals they have also assisted the GSCA in conducting various State Championships. The chess coaching of V. Sivaswamy and Prasanna have unearthed many new talents. The Smt. Hirabai V. Salgaocar FIDE Rated All India Open Chess Tournament that they are conducting in association with G.S.C.A and with moral and financial support of G.S.C.A President and A.I.C.F. Vice President Mr. Sameer Salgaocar is their most ambitious venture till now.
Mr. Salgaocar had indicated his desire to take Chess in Goa to a new higher level. Already it is becoming a haunt for Indian Chess as can be witnessed by the hosting of the Pre Olympic Coaching Camp for India's top GrandMasters in May 2006. The world Championship for the Blind is another event stated for later this year as is the National Under - 7 Championship for Boys & Girls. At the same time the base for the Game is slowly being expanded and new talent is being nourished. It cannot be long before our first International Master appears from Goa.
Courtesy: Augusto Pinto