The University of Fiji has partnered with the Fiji Chess Federation (FCF) to host future tournaments after the success of the National Chess Championship at its Saweni Campus in Lautoka last weekend.
Candidate master Manoj Kumar won the open category while Tanvi Prasad took out the women’s category.
Mukesh Paranthaman won the secondary category, Arnav Lal won the primary category and five-year-old Arohan Gogoi was named as the best beginner.
FCF executive member and rating officer Avinesh Nadan was grateful to the University of Fiji for hosting the inaugural chess tournament of such magnitude in the Western Division and for providing the venue for future tournaments.
“The university has shown keen interest in chess, a deviation from academics to sports trying to develop all round students,” Nadan said.
The acting vice-chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said chess was an intellectual game as well as a game of strategy. She said the university students were being encouraged to take it up to provide them with an edge in employment opportunities.
“COVID-19 has brought us a whole lot of challenges and our graduates need to be equipped with social skills as well as formal qualifications,” Shameem said.
“The partnership with the FCF gives students the opportunity to interact with chess masters and those who are at the top of the sport.”
