Russian GM Petr Kiriakov Engages 36 Young Chess Talents in Patna After Bihar Open Success

Russian Grandmaster Engages Young Talents in Patna After Bihar Open Chess Tournament

Patna, Bihar – Following a thrilling performance that saw him finish as the runner-up in the Bihar Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, Russian Grandmaster Petr Kiriakov took to the chessboard once again on Monday, this time engaging in simultaneous matches against 36 aspiring young players at the Indoor Stadium in Patliputra Sports Complex.

The event was a remarkable showcase of talent, as young prodigies from Bihar rose to the occasion, challenging the seasoned Grandmaster. Over the course of three intense hours, Kiriakov faced off against the eager participants, with three players—Kumar Srijan and Abhimanyu Kumar from Patna, and Abhijit Kumar from Bhagalpur—managing to secure draws in their respective matches. Their impressive performances earned them accolades from Kiriakov and Dharmendra Kumar, secretary of the All Bihar Chess Association (ABCA).

In a gesture of encouragement, all remaining participants received certificates personally signed by Kiriakov, with Raveendran Sankaran, director general and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), present to witness the budding talents in action. “These were game-changing moments in their chess careers,” Sankaran remarked. “Our players were confident, aggressive, and strategic. Many times, GM Petr had to think for quite some time because their moves were very sharp.”

Reflecting on his experience after the tournament, Kiriakov expressed his delight at the level of competition he encountered. “It was my first time in India, and I was quite surprised to see so many strong players. I expected to finish on top but ended up second,” he said. “Maybe I will come back again to try and win the tournament because it was an overall good experience. Everyone wanted to take pictures, and I felt very happy.”

The tournament, held under the joint aegis of BSSA and ABCA, crowned Maharashtra’s Mahindrakar Indrajeet as the champion. In a nail-biting final round, Indrajeet defeated Bengal’s Parambrata Sarkar, while Kiriakov settled for a draw in just thirteen moves. Haryana’s Prithvi Sharma also triumphed over Nepal’s Rupesh Jaiswal, leading to a three-way tie with eight points each. However, Indrajeet clinched the title based on tie-break scores, winning by a narrow margin of half a point.

During the award ceremony, Bihar’s Education Minister Sunil Kumar, alongside Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh, underscored the significance of chess in fostering intellectual development. Kumar proposed the inclusion of chess in the primary education curriculum, promising that plans for systematic implementation would be pursued in the future.

As the event concluded, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and inspiration, leaving young players and chess enthusiasts eager for more opportunities to learn and compete. With Kiriakov’s promise to return next year, the future of chess in Bihar looks bright.