Checkmate Cancer - A tournament for a noble cause on World Cancer Day
Revolutionary Chess Corps organized Checkmate Cancer on World Cancer Day, 4th February. Apart from giving the youth and talented players of Nashik, an opportunity to compete, the heart of the initiative was a noble cause - checkmate cancer through awareness and support. Dr. Swapnanjali Awhad, a prominent gynecologist and President of the Indian Medical Association, explained the causes of cancer. Dr. Roshankumar Patil, a well-known radiation oncologist of Cancer Center of America, Nashik, lectured the parents on several types of cancer, its causes, and effects. The tournament was organized in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, Nashik Road along with Venue Partner - Parmanand Sports Academy. Photos: Varad Deo
A unique event unfolded its pieces in the holy city of Nashik: "Checkmate Cancer". Organized by the Revolutionary Chess Corps, this tournament not only aimed to celebrate the strategic brilliance of chess players but also to checkmate a deadly opponent – Cancer, through awareness and support. The tournament, a first of its kind to be held in the city, came with a ₹25000 prize fund and 68 trophies, was truly an unforgettable experience for participants and attendees alike. Held on World Cancer Day, 4th February 2024, it was a thrilling event that showcased the incredible talent of some of the top chess players in the region. With over 200 participants from all over Maharashtra, the tournament was a true testament to the popularity and passion for chess in the state. The event was organized in collaboration with Indian Medical Association, Nashik Road along with Venue Partner - Parmanand Sports Academy.
At the heart of this chess extravaganza, lies its noble cause – to raise awareness about cancer. The organizers, moved by their personal encounters with the severity of cancer, decided to channel their passion for chess into a platform for change. Hence, in a battle that transcended the chessboard, eminent doctors enlightened the participants and the audience with insightful lectures on the early detection and prevention of cancer. Dr. Swapnanjali Awhad, a prominent gynecologist and President of the Indian Medical Association, Nashik Road, took the stage to explain the causes of cancer and how our day-to-day lifestyle affects our health. Dr. Roshankumar Patil, a well-known radiation oncologist of Cancer Center of America, Nashik, lectured the parents on several types of cancer, its causes, and effects.
Local hero, Harshal Patil, won the event convincingly by scoring 8/8, securing a beautiful trophy and ₹5000 cash, while CM Shreyansh Shah of Solapur stood second, CM Vedant Pimpalkhare bagged the third place. Akhilesh Nagare and Kartik Kumar Singh grabbed the fourth and fifth place respectively. Huge congratulations to all the participants for putting on such an incredible display of talent and sportsmanship. We can't wait to see what the future holds for these amazing players!
The Prize Distribution Ceremony was attended by renowned pulmonologist Dr. Swapnil Sakhala and imminent gynecologist Dr. Sumit Avhad, along with the Director of Parmanand Sports Academy - Aparna Kothawale. Dr. Sakhala congratulated the players for their participation and noted the efforts of the entire team in organizing such a huge event which intended to bridge the gap between medical professionals and chess players.
The Revolutionary Chess Corps has been a beacon for chess enthusiasts in Nashik, consistently organizing top-notch events to provide a platform for budding players to compete with the best chess players across the country. "Checkmate Cancer" stands as a testament to their commitment not just to the game, but also to the well-being of the community. The entire R-evolutionary Chess Corps Team ensured the smooth conduction of the event. Tournament Director - Varad Deo, Chief Arbiter - FA Pushkar Jadhav, Deputy Arbiters - SNA Chaitanya Divekar, SNA Pramod Gandhgole, NI Onkar Jadhav, SA Nilesh Bahalkar and chess enthusiasts, Ajay Thombare, Prashant Jadhav, Vishal Joshi, Bhushan Pawar, Harshal Walde, Ganesh Tajane, Jay Patel worked hard to make this event a historical one.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Patil, Harshal | IND | 1822 | Nashik | 8 | 42 | 45 | 45,00 | ||
| 2 | 1 | CM | Shreyans, K. Shah | IND | 2221 | Solapur | 7 | 43 | 47 | 39,00 | |
| 3 | 2 | CM | Pimpalkhare, Vedant | IND | 2101 | Nashik | 7 | 41,5 | 45 | 37,00 | |
| 4 | 3 | Nagare, Akhilesh | IND | 2025 | Nashik | 7 | 40,5 | 44 | 37,00 | ||
| 5 | 9 | Kartik, Kumar Singh | IND | 1669 | Shereshevsky | 7 | 40 | 43 | 35,00 | ||
| 6 | 8 | Umesh, M. Kulkarni | IND | 1776 | Satara | 7 | 36 | 38 | 32,50 | ||
| 7 | 24 | Vivan, Prasad Kasliwal | U10 | IND | 1128 | Nashik | 6,5 | 39 | 43 | 32,25 | |
| 8 | 204 | Tanishq, Tushar Mahale | U14 | IND | 0 | Nashik | 6,5 | 35 | 36,5 | 27,50 | |
| 9 | 10 | Vikram, Mavlankar | IND | 1502 | Nashik | 6 | 40 | 42 | 26,50 | ||
| 10 | 4 | WFM | Bhagyashree, Patil | IND | 1872 | Jalgaon | 6 | 39,5 | 43,5 | 29,50 | |
| 11 | 12 | Walde, Harshal | IND | 1429 | LCM | 6 | 39,5 | 41,5 | 28,00 | ||
| 12 | 14 | Shriram, Kailas Mhasane | IND | 1259 | PCA | 6 | 39 | 43 | 29,00 | ||
| 13 | 17 | Avhad, Shreyas | IND | 1224 | PCA | 6 | 39 | 42,5 | 26,00 | ||
| 14 | 18 | Kashish, Manoj Sanap | U14 | IND | 1217 | Horizon Academy | 6 | 38,5 | 42 | 27,00 | |
| 15 | 13 | AIM | Watpade, Vivek | IND | 1344 | Nashik | 6 | 38,5 | 41,5 | 29,00 | |
| 16 | 22 | Bahalkar, Aarya | IND | 1177 | Nashik | 6 | 38 | 41 | 27,75 | ||
| 17 | 16 | Kapse, Abhishek | IND | 1233 | HCA | 6 | 37,5 | 41,5 | 29,00 | ||
| 18 | 23 | Panchal, Ruturaj | U14 | IND | 1141 | PCA | 6 | 36,5 | 39,5 | 27,00 | |
| 19 | 192 | Shinde, Suraj | IND | 0 | 6 | 36,5 | 39 | 26,00 | |||
| 20 | 45 | Bhalerao, Ansh | U14 | IND | 0 | Sacred Heart | 6 | 36 | 39 | 26,00 |
The article was edited by Shahid Ahmed
About the Author
Varad Deo is a chess player/coach hailing from Nashik. He's also the co-founder of Pro Chess Academy, Nashik. He and a group of chess enthusiasts came together to form the Revolutionary Chess Corps, the tournament organization team of the city with the aim of providing a platform for the young and upcoming players of the city to compete and prepare them for higher levels. Apart from chess, he has a degree in Psychology and is an avid reader.
