222 young chess players battle for honours at Intra-School Chess Tournament

Pioneer News Service

Jamshedpur

The Knowledge Centre of Loyola School, Jamshedpur turned into a hub of intense concentration and strategic thinking as the 3rd G.D. Rungta Intra-School Chess Tournament got underway, bringing together 222 young chess players in a celebration of intellect, discipline, perseverance and sportsmanship.

Organised in collaboration with the G.D. Rungta Foundation, Loyola School and Loyola Alumni Association, the annual tournament seeks to carry forward the legacy of Late G.D. Rungta, one of Loyola School’s early students. The initiative reflects Rungta’s belief that every child should have the freedom and opportunity to discover and pursue his or her potential.

What began as a modest intra-school competition with around 100 participants has steadily grown into a major annual sporting event at the school. The participation of 222 students this year reflects the growing popularity of chess among Loyola students and the success of the initiative in encouraging young minds to embrace the game.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Rector Fr. Michael T. Raj, Principal Fr. Vinod Fernandes, Vice Principals, Chief Arbiter Jayant Bhujanya, members of the panel of arbiters and representatives of the G.D. Rungta Foundation and Loyola Alumni Association.

Fr. Michael T. Raj led the gathering in prayer and delivered the welcome address. He emphasised the importance of perseverance, healthy competition and excellence.

The tournament was formally declared open by Fr. Vinod Fernandes, Principal of Loyola School and President of the Loyola Alumni Association. Addressing the participants, he observed that chess is much more than a game played on 64 squares, as it demands patience, foresight, adaptability and discipline. He encouraged the players to compete with confidence while upholding the spirit of sportsmanship.