Abhrajyoti Nath from Silchar qualifies for the the FIDE Chess World Championship, 2021; Among 4 from Assam

The FIDE Online Cadets & Youth Rapid World Cup, 2021 is scheduled to be held from August 1 to 30, 2021. FIDE is an international chess organization that acts as the official governing body of the game of chess all over the world. In each age category of the Chess World Cup, India can field a maximum of 15 entries in total, apart from any wild card granted by the organiser. Only four players from Assam have been selected for representing India in the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Online Chess World Cup, 2021. And among those special four, Silchar’s Abhrajyoti Nath has also made it to the world event of Chess competition of this year.

Abhrajyoti happens to be the first chess player from Barak Valley to represent India in a world tournament of FIDE. He is going to compete in the Under-14 Open category. Players who finished 1st to 10th positions in the respective National Online Age Group Championships as well as players holding GM/IM/WGM/WIM titles can apply for participation in the FIDE Online Cadets & Youth Rapid World Cup, 2021 by filling the registration form. The first 10 quotas will be filled by the Top 10 of the National Championship and the next 5 will be given to the titled players on the basis of their rating according to June 2021 FRL.

Apart from this, players who finished 11th to 20th position in their respective national championship can also apply as standby and on the basis of availability of quota (including wild card), they will be accommodated in the final list for participation.

All players who finished 1st to 3rd will be official entries and their entry fee will be taken care of by the All India Chess Federation (AICF). They are also required to confirm their participation by filling in the details at the registration link. All others including titleholders are required to pay an entry fee as per regulations.

Abhrojyoti Nath secured 20th Rank. The CDCA then advised his father to enroll as standby to take the chance, which worked. Dr. Charvak, Honorary President of CDCA said, “We have congratulated Abhro and his family, on this great occasion. For the first time, someone from Silchar will be representing India in any international Chess Tournament.”

Talking about Abhrojyoti’s qualification, Nirmalya Chakraborty, General Secretary of the Cachar District Chess Association (CDCA), said, “It’s a huge achievement for the entire Barak Valley, and not just Cachar or Silchar. This is the first instance that a chess player from Silchar is going to compete at the FIDE World Championship and that too at such a young category. Abhrajyoti will be competing in the Under-14 category and for that, he and all the other Indian players who are going to compete in the World Championship will provide with a special 7-day Grandmaster level training by the AICF before the main event in August.”

Chakraborty and Professor Charvak echoed, “So, quite understandably, we’re elated for Abhrojyoti’s success and we pray that he performs well in the world championship to make our entire valley proud and also inspire future chess players to push their glass ceilings.” They informed CDCA will also sponsor his entry fees.

The other three players from Assam who made it to the world tournament are Dhrupad Kashyap (Under-16 open), Ikshita Barman (Under-12 Girl), and Mrinmoy Rajkhowa (Under-12 Open). Rajib Dhar, Secretary of, All Assam Chess Association (AACA) also congratulated Dhrupad, Abhrojyoti, Ikshita, and Mrinmoy for getting selected to represent India in the FIDE World Championship.