What happens in a typical Indian Chess tournament

After being part of many tournaments, I am in a position to explain the scenario in a typical Indian Chess tournament. In India, spectators are generally people who have great love for chess, but either lack money or patience to play. Suppose it’s a professional tournament and you are a spectator. When you are spectating, few things will definitely catch your eye and few things only players can realize. I will explain it all.

The Sheets of paper and that famed wall

The pairing of players (who shall play with whom) is always pasted on the same spot. It is a tough job to check out the pairing, as almost three hundred players have to check it out within five minutes. Yes, it is displayed just before the round begins. Just after the players check out whom they have to play with, they also check their chess rating (a chess player’s strength represented by points) which is also displayed in the pairing. Now, the fear of loosing with a higher rated person or over confidence of winning against a lower rated person builds up.

And the round begins..

Chess players are all stacked up in decently arranged rows. They start asking their opponent few questions. ‘How long you’ve been playing chess?’ ‘When did you get your rating?’ ‘Which state are you from?’ ‘Are you working?’ At least one of these will definitely be asked. While few are very diplomatic and answer these questions with a beaming gentleman attitude, others start showing their arrogant-serious game winner attitude. “While this might not have a major impact on most the players, the opponent will have a ‘psychological edge‘ if it’s a kid” says S.Ramesh who is a senior chess coach. Believe me, all these tactics are put to full use in a serious chess game. Most of the matches begin after the arbiter announces ‘Players can start their matches’. They usually start the chess timer, sometimes accompanied by a friendly handshake.

And the round begins..

The Walk-over Joy

While most of the players have started their games, few are just sitting idle. Their opponents have not yet arrived. They start asking the arbiter if he has a spare chess clock so that the opponent looses ‘time’ if he is just in time before a walk-over is declared. And everyone awaits for that melodious line announced after thirty minutes of commencement of games. “players can claim their walk-over points”

All Age groups under a single roof

Chess might be the only game in which people from all age groups participate. It’s a truly wonderful sight to see 5 year olds, who can hardly reach the table by sitting on 2-3 stacked up chairs, battling it out with 70 year olds. These old men and women are sometimes easily ambushed by these toddlers.

7 vs 70

Arbiter! Arbiter!

There is at least one call for the arbiter in every five minutes. Mostly regarding “Touch to Move” “He is not writing the notation” “He is always roaming” “He is making noise” “His cell phone ringed” The very younger section of players take the rules very seriously and never leave a chance to claim.

Last one playing

The last game going on in the round has the most number of spectators. The already nervous chess players’ condition deteriorates with around 20-30 spectators trying their best to look whats going on.

The difference in Hair style

No one would deny this, a chess players hair style is completely lost during the game. He twists the hair with his fingers and crumbles it in deep thought giving him a new hair style by the end of his game.

The above process goes on till the tournament ends after nine/eleven rounds.

The closing ceremony

The closing ceremony doesn’t see half the players and the speech given by the officials always includes good words about chess. The way it helps everyone and definitely why Russians are better at chess!