Government of Maharashtra grants fifty lakhs to 2014 World Junior Chess Championship

Official handover of the cheque

1st September, 2014, Pune:

The prestigious World Junior Chess Championship-2014 (WJCC-2014), the second most important Chess tournament in the World, scheduled at Pune from 5th October to 20th October 2014 got a major boost as the State Government of Maharashtra released a grant of Rs 50,000,00 (fifty lakhs). The cheque was formally handed over to Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte by Shri Padmakar Valvi, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Maharashtra in the presence of Ms. Ashwini Bhide, Secretary Sports, Dr. Nitin Kareer, Commissioner Sales Tax and former President of Maharashtra Chess Association and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Director of Sports.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Aniruddha Deshpande Chairman Organising Committee and Vice President MCA said, “Hon. Chief Minister, Shri Prithviraj Chavan had earlier agreed to be the Chief Patron of the championship during a meeting with Vishwanathan Anand and officials of Maharashtra Chess Association. He had also assured to extend full support from his Government for this tournament. We are extremely thankful to him and his team for this grant which will go a long way in successful conduct of the championship. This event is being held for the first time in Maharashtra and this initiative by the State Government will also provide a great impetus to the game of chess not only in Maharashtra but also in India”.

The WJCC-2014 is being jointly organized by the Maharashtra Chess Association and Pune district Chess Circle under the auspices of AICF (All India Chess Federation) and FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echecs-, World Chess Federation). 250 players from 50 countries including Grandmasters and International Masters are expected to participate in this 15 day event that will be held at Hotel Hyatt, Pune.