The "8" and the "90"

Two-time winner of the Girls' Under-8 World Chess Championship, Ivana Furtado, went head to head with 90 year old Indian chess icon Bahusaheb Padasalgikar! The Navhind Times Ivana draws with Padasalgikar NT Sports Desk Panaji, Jan 29 Double world champ Ivana Maria Furtado drew with veteran Padasalgikar, who is considered the father of chess in India in an exhibition chess match organised by Taleigao Chess Academy and International Centre Goa at Dona Paula. The battle went for over 3 hours and Ivana could not convert her slight exchange advantage even tough Bhau had a better space advantage. Finally, Ivana agreed for a draw with bishop and a pawn against Bhau’s two separated pawns. “Improve your middle game,” was the veteran’s advice to the world champ. Earlier, ninety-year-old Bahusaheb Padasalgikar from Nutan Buddhibal Mandal, Sangli, released a souvenir entitled ‘The Right Move’ containing articles on chess and education edited by Mr Shrikant Barve. Mr Manish Kamble, President of Taleigao Chess Academy welcomed and Mr Shrikant Barve, secretary of Taleigao Chess Academy proposed the vote of thanks. Street plays on “Changes in our schooling over the years” were presented by Little Lamb Primary School, Taleigao and Vidhya Vikas Academy, Margao was enacted. Dr S S Thigale, director Symbiosis, Pune, spoke on diploma in chess introduced by their institution in a discussion “Chess and Education”. Other panellist included Prof Augusto Pinto, of Dempo College of Commerce and Economis and vice-president, Goa State Chess Association and Prof S U Kamat of Dempe College. Prof Anil Samant of Saraswat Vidyalaya, Mapusa, Prof Vasundhara Varkhedkar of Dempe College, and Mr Ganesh Manerikar interacted with the parents of chess students. Umang Kaisare of Sharada Mandir, Mira Mar played simultaneous games against 24 students and won all games except one. The game against Aniruddha Bhat from Child Care School, Margao ended in a draw. In the lightning chess tournament for eight invitees, Vasant Naik proved his skills against young promising players like Anurag Mhamal, Umang Kaisery and won all four games. The major attraction was the primary school students chess tournament. It was held in eight categories for Std I to Std IV, boys and girls separately. In all, 310 children from 55 schools took part and included one from West Bengal, 3 from Kolhapur, 3 from Pune and 4 from Mumbai. Anurag Mhamal (185 Elo points) and Cyrus Pereira were awarded special trophies for their achievements. Winners: Dempo S S Vidula, Sharada Mandir School, Panaji: Sawant Riya, St Hadkonkar Gauri, OL Rosary School, D Paula; Pandit P Dhanashree, N E SP school, Bhandup, Mumbai; Advait Karmalkar, Mumbai; Parab B Ritviz, Vidya Vikas Academy, Margao; Bhat V Anirudh, Child Care School, Margao; Mohanan Harikrishnan, Ezekiel Methodist School, Bambolim.