June 15, Nepal
The SACC Chess Championship 2023, organized by the Nepal Chess Federation, started at the Hotel View Bhrikuti in Godawari village of Lalitpur in Nepal with a short opening ceremony on June 13.
The individual round-robin championships in both the open and women’s sections are playing classical chess with 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment time control. There are 10 players from six federations of South Asia in the open category and 8 players in the women’s section.
Indian GM Sayantan Das is the highest player in the open section, followed by defending champion IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh of India. In the women’s section, another Indian WIM Sakshi Chitlange is the highest rated.
The event broadcasts live with commentary led by Sushrut Dahal with his team every round.
The opening ceremony was attended by Member Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC) of Nepal Mr. Tanka Lal Ghising, Asian Chess Federation (ACF) Deputy President Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan, Honorable member of Bagamati Provincial Assembly Mr. Raghunath Maharjan, FIDE director for chess development Mr. Nigel Short and South Asian Chess Federation (SACC) Deputy President Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan. The President of the Nepal Chess Federation Mr. Bidur Prasad Gautam informed about the development process and the future plan of Nepal, welcomed the participants, and wished them success. The NSC member secretary Ghising and ACF deputy president Chauhan made the first ceremonial move to inaugurate the championship officially.
After the fourth round of the Open section IM Nubairshah is leading the event with 3.5 points and in the women’s section WIM Shakshi is has scored three points from the three rounds and leading the event.
The closing and prize-giving ceremony will be held on June 18 after the completion of round 9 in the open and round 7 in the women’s section.
IA Umesh KC, Deputy Chief Arbiter (Councillor of FIDE Rules Commission)
Official website: nepalchess.org/
Pairings and Results
Open: SACC OPEN
Women: SACC WOMEN