Russian GM Petr Kiriakov Engages Young Chess Talents in Patna After Bihar Open FIDE Tournament
In an inspiring display of skill and mentorship, Russian Grandmaster Petr Kiriakov played simultaneous matches against 36 young players at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna, following his runner-up finish in the Bihar Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament.
Russian GM Petr Kiriakov Engages Young Chess Prodigies in Patna
Patna, Bihar – In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, Russian Grandmaster Petr Kiriakov took to the chessboard on Monday, engaging in simultaneous matches against 36 enthusiastic young players at the Patliputra Sports Complex. This event followed Kiriakov’s impressive performance as the runner-up in the Bihar Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament.
The atmosphere was electric as budding chess talents from Bihar challenged the seasoned Grandmaster, showcasing their skills in a contest that lasted over three hours. Among the participants, three young players—Kumar Srijan and Abhimanyu Kumar from Patna, and Abhijit Kumar from Bhagalpur—managed to secure draws against Kiriakov, a feat that earned them accolades from both the Grandmaster and Dharmendra Kumar, secretary of the All Bihar Chess Association (ABCA).
Each participant received a certificate personally signed by Kiriakov, who was joined by Raveendran Sankaran, director general and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA). Sankaran expressed his admiration for the young players, stating, “These were game-changing moments in their chess careers. They learned a few important moves. Our budding 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 in India, Kiriakov shared his surprise at the level of talent he encountered. “It was my first time in India. I was quite surprised to see so many strong players. I expected to finish on top but ended up second,” he remarked. “Maybe I will now come back once 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, concluded with Maharashtra’s Mahindrakar Indrajeet clinching the top prize. In a nail-biting final round, Indrajeet defeated Bengal’s Parambrata Sarkar, while Kiriakov settled for a draw in just thirteen moves. All three top players finished with eight points, but Indrajeet emerged victorious based on tie-break scores.
During the award ceremony, Bihar’s education minister, Sunil Kumar, along with sports minister Shreyasi Singh, emphasized the importance of chess for intellectual development. Kumar proposed the inclusion of chess in the primary education curriculum, stating that plans for systematic implementation would be pursued in the future.
As the event wrapped up, the excitement and inspiration lingered in the air, leaving young players eager for their next opportunity to learn from the best. With Kiriakov’s promise to return, the future of chess in Bihar looks bright.