Think chess can only be played in quiet halls? Kids in age-group 8-15, including World Chess Federation-rated players, took part in a speed chess tournament onboard a metro train in Lucknow on April 7.
Organised by ‘Chess Club Black & White Lucknow’, players were given three-minute time control to finish the game. The tournament was organised in twin Metro coaches between IT station to CCS airport. They were accompanied by members of Ilyas Khan group playing guitar tunes and Bollywood songs to cheer the players.
Junaid Ahmed, tournament director and former UP chess champion, told HT,
“If you love chess, you can play it anywhere and anytime. And like the Metro, chess resonates in the history, art and culture of Lucknow. We wanted to tell Lucknowites to come out and play.”
In fast/speed chess, players are given less time than normal to consider their moves. The rules specify a cumulative total time for moves for each side. Indian grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand has won World Rapid Chess championships twice, in 2003 and 2017.
Such games are frequently organised aboard trains in European cities like Prague and Kiev.
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