Whats more for sprouting chess stars when chess guru and India’s own world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand himself was there showing various chess moves to them in the presence of the State Chief Minister.
As many as 20,486 players were selected to play for this sporting bonanza arranged jointly by Youth and Cultural Activity Department, NIIT and Gujarat State Chess Association. The troop of players also included about 140 visually challenged players. The world-record earlier was with Mexico, who won it in 2006 with 13,346 players playing chess simultaneously.
Chief Minister while congratulating the players said that India had 299 world records in its account and with today’s record the count has reached to 300. Chief Minister also mentioned about Gujarat’s recent pattern where it has captured record after records with the events like mammoth tree plantation program, Khel Mahakumbh having 14-lakh players, 50-lakh people reading inspirational books in one hour, Tana-Riri at Vadnagar and others. He also appealed the players present to prepare five more players in the game of chess and thus create a pool of one lakh chess players in the state.
Shri Anand said that Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi had originally envisaged this event a year back. He said that he is happy to see this historic event actually taking place, a sure one to earn pride for Gujarat.
Youth and Cultural Activities Minister Shri Fakirbhai Vaghela said that chess is a brain game and that this event was organized with a view to inculcate sporting spirit among the youth of Gujarat.
Revenue Minister Smt.Anandiben Patel, Education Minister Shri Ramanlal Vora, NIIT’s Shri Rajendra Pawar, Chief Secretary Shri A.K.Joti, Ahmedabad Mayor Shri Asit Vora, Famous film-star Shri Paresh Rawal, noted stage actor Shri Manoj Joshi and chess players in large numbers were present on the occasion.
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