In the summer of April 2010 we had announced our 1^st FIDE Rating Chess Tournament at Bima Nagar High School, Borivali (where I used to conduct my Chess training activities for nearly 15 uninterrupted years!). In view of the limited infrastructure available for conduct of this tournament, I had restricted the number of entries to 150. This number was filled on the 3^rd day after the announcement of the event! And, I had no alternative but to reject any more registration. However; I immediately started receiving feedback from the Chess fraternity of Mumbai (being a ‘Mumbai ‘Open) that there should be no cap on participants.

In desperation, started the hunt for a tournament hall which could accommodate 300+ players. Here again the search appeared to reach dead end as most of the halls were booked and the remaining beyond the fragile budget of an Indian Chess organizer!! As you are aware, nearly 90% of any Corporate’s budgetary allocation for sports sponsorship is only for the ‘Men in Blue’!! The fight for the remaining share of 10% by the 20 odd sports discipline proves the Darwin’s theory of the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ as correct!!

Destiny brought me in contact with my old friend, Rashmin Desai, who is an alumni of Don Bosco, Borivali. I had a successful meeting with the Principal, Reverend Father George Carlos and the Administrator of the School, Reverend Father Allwyn. Finally, the approval was accorded by the Rector of the School, Reverend Father, Ronald Menezes. Rest, as we say, is History!!

Mumbai players had one of its finest Chess tournaments and the icing on the cake was the completion of the rating requirements, either partial or complete by not less than 70 players from the 350+ participants!!

The management team of the Don Bosco High School, Borivali was very happy with the conduct of the tournament and the school, which has very famous alumni (Don Bosco, Egmore – Chennai) in World Chess Champion, Vishy Anand, immediately agreed to our proposal of providing us a dedicated Chess Classroom!! We have aptly named this as ‘Vishy Anand Chess Hall’

Because of the fantastic support of the School, Chess tournament has become a very regular feature at the Don Bosco High School, Borivali and, till date, we have conducted more than 10 tournaments including 2 FIDE Rating, Mumbai Open Blitz, category tournaments for children and last but not least our own internal tournaments.

A special mention about Reverend Father Ronald Menezes – being an avid sportsperson himself, he is a treasure house of Sports happenings including Chess!! The spectators at the event were amazed when he recounted the head-to-head score between Anand – Topalov, Anand’s epic journey to Bulgaria at the height

From the current academic year Chess was introduced by the Principal, Reverend Father Carlos as on the ‘Optional Subject’ for their ‘Chess-in-School’ project and to our pleasant surprise 50-children opted for Chess!

Besides, the Chess School has nearly 150 students from all parts of the northern suburbs of Mumbai and the number is growing every day. A day would not be far when the School would be able to churn our champions at the State/National/International events with regularity!

My request for the 2^nd classroom in the Central Suburbs of Mumbai was approved by the Don Bosco High School, Matunga and we they too have a dedicated classroom with effect from 01^st July, 2011. At presently, nearly 40 children are enrolled.

Positive Chess vibrations emanating in the Chess School from Photos of the World Chess Champions!!

Don Bosco Leads us!!
– FI Praful Zaveri