Mitrabha Guha relays the Chess Olympiad Torch at ten cities across the country

by Shahid Ahmed - 15/07/2022

India's 72nd and West Bengal's ninth GM Mitrabha Guha received the Chess Olympiad Torch at Kolkata, West Bengal from GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury. He relayed it to nine more cities in six states across the country. Kolkata witnessed the highest number of GMs at a single Torch Relay event so far. India's 35th GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury, 51st GM Saptarshi Roy, 72nd GM Mitrabha and 14th GM Neelotpal Das graced everyone with their presence. The list of accolades they have accumulated over the years is countless. 20 children and chess enthusiasts got an opportunity to face the GMs in a tandem simul. Among them, only Debapriya Manna managed to draw her game. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Four GMs attend the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay ceremony at Kolkata

Thursday 7th July - The Sports Minister of Jharkhand, Hafizul Hassan received the Torch and handed it to India's 35th GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury who took the torch forward.

IM FT FA Neeraj Kumar Mishra and GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury holds the Torch with Hafizul Hassan | Photo: AICF

GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury arrives with the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

IM FT FA Neeraj Kumar Mishra holds the Torch with other officials | Photo: AJCA

GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury played Simultaneous Exhibition matches with kids and local chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

A group photo with the officials and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AJCA

India's 35th GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury passed the Torch to West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar. He relayed the Torch to India's 72nd and West Bengal's 9th GM Mitrabha Guha at Sports Authority of India, Kolkata.

GM Mitrabha Guha received the Chess Olympiad Torch from Jagdeep Dhankhar in presence of GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury and FI NA Shyamol Dutta | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The four GMs of West Bengal - Mitrabha Guha, Saptarshi Roy, Neelotpal Das and Saptarshi RoyChowdhury holding the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

We all love chess, don't we? | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Debapriya Manna about to shake hands with GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

National School Under-13 Girls 2022 Bronze medalist and West Bengal Under-15 Girls Rapid Rating in celebration of 44th Chess Olympiad winner, 12-year-old Debapriya Manna held the tandem of GM Mitrabha Guha and GM Neelotpal Das to a draw.

GM Saptarshi Roy and GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury played a tandem simul with ten chess players and enthusiasts | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Parents were as much excited as their kids for the Simultaneous Exhibition matches with the Grandmasters | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Shourya Paul also was very close to a draw with the tandem of GM Saptarshi Roy and GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The match had to be adjudged, due to time constraints. All remaining 18 games were won by the GMs. The Simul featured a National School Under-17 Open champion, Ujaan Bhattacharya and National School Under-13 Girls second runner-up, Debapriya Manna. It possibly had one of the strongest simul participants in the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay events.

For more photos, please click here.

Chess Olympiad Torch Relay Kolkata highlights, interviews with GM Mitrabha Guha, GM Saptarshi RoyChowdhury and IA FI Debasish Barua | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with GM Saptarshi Roy, IM FT Suvrajit Saha and FI NA Shyamol Dutta | Video: ChessBase India

Friday 8th July - Dr. Shankar Ghosh, MLA Siliguri received the torch at Salugara Monastery. India's 72nd GM Mitrabha Guha took the Torch forward.

GM Mitrabha Guha arrives at Siliguri with the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

Dr, Shankar Ghosh received the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha played Simultaneous exhibition matches with the local kids and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

Kunga Nima Lepcha, Minister of Education and Sports, Sikkim received the torch at Sikkim Manipal University and handed it over to GM Mitrabha Guha.

Kunga Nima Lepcha received the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha shares a frame with the local kids, officials and the Torch | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha played Simultaneous exhibition matches with the local kids and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

Sunday 10th July: India's 72nd GM Mitrabha Guha took the Torch forward at SAI STC, Shillong, Meghalaya.

GM Mitrabha Guha with the Chess Olympiad Torch at Shillong, Meghalaya | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha walked with the Torch on an athletic track | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha with various kids and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

The Minister of Sports & Youth Welfare, Govt. of Assam, Bimal Borah received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha at Sarusajai Sports Complex, Guwahati, Assam.

Bimal Borah received the Chess Olympiad Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: AICF

MLA S Premchandra received the Torch from India's 51st GM Saptarshi Roy who reached Imphal with the Torch at Kangla Fort in Imphal West, Manipur.

S Premchandra received the Torch from GM Saptarshi Roy | Photo: AICF

GM Saptarshi Roy played Simultaneous exhibition matches with the local kids and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

Monday 11th July: The Minister of Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue, Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of Nagaland, Neiba Kronu received the Chess Olympiad Torch from India's 36th GM Ankit Rajpara at DC Old Bungalow, Kohima.

Neiba Kronu received the Chess Olympiad Torch from GM Ankit Rajpara | Photo: AICF

GM Ankit Rajpara played Simultaneous Exhbition matches with the local chess enthusiasts and kids | Photo: AICF

Group photograph of GM Ankit Rajpara with the Torch, officials and locals | Photo: AICF

Tuesday 12th July: Robert Romawia Royte, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Sports & Youth Services, I&CT, Tourism, Govt. of Mizoram received the Torch from India's 72nd GM Mitrabha Guha in Aizawl, Mizoram.

Robert Romawia Royte received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha in presence of his parents and officials | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha played Simultaneous Exhibition matches with the local kids and chess enthusiasts | Photo: AICF

Wednesday 13th July: The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu received the Torch from India's 72nd GM Mitrabha Guha at D K Convention Hall, Itanagar in presence of various officials.

GM Mitrabha Guha arrives with the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

Pema Khandu received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: AICF

The Minister of Sports & Youth Welfare, Govt. of Assam, Bimal Borah received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha at Multipurpose Indoor Sports Complex, Dibrugarh, Assam.

Bimal Borah received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: AICF

Thursday 14th July: The Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein received the torch from GM Mitrabha Guha at Town club, Namsai.

Chowna Mein received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha played Simultaneous Exhibition matches with clock against some local kids | Photo: AICF

GM Mitrabha Guha at the Namsai Monastery with the Chess Olympiad Torch and officials | Photo: Dept. of Sports MYAS

The Chief Minister of Tripura, Prof. Dr. Manik Saha received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha at Town Hall, Agartala.

GM Mitrabha arrived with the Chess Olympiad Torch | Photo: AICF

Prof. Dr. Manik Saha received the Torch from GM Mitrabha Guha | Photo: AICF

Where is the Torch heading next?

Check out the upcoming dates where the Chess Olympiad Torch is heading next. For exact timing and location, please contact your local district/state chess association.

58	15th July 2022	Bhubaneswar, Odisha
59	15th July 2022	Puri, Odisha
60	15th July 2022	Konark, Odisha
61	16th July 2022	Raipur, Chattisgarh
62	16th July 2022	Hyderabad, Telangana
63	17th July 2022	Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
64	17th July 2022	Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
65	18th July 2022	Bengaluru, Karnataka
66	19th July 2022	Mangaluru, Karnataka
67	20th July 2022	Kavaratti, Lakshadweep (Agatti Island Airport)
68	21th July 2022	Thrissur, Kerala
69	22st July 2022	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
70	23rd July 2022	Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
71	23rd July 2022	Puducherry, Puducherry
72	24th July 2022	Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
73	25th July 2022	Madurai, Tamil Nadu
74	26th July 2022	Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
75	27th July 2022	Chennai, Tamil Nadu