Chess Grad wins 1st CEG Trophy State level Open Team 2022

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/05/2022

The top two seeds of the tournament, Chess Grad and SSN College of Engineering scored an unbeaten 15.0/16. ChessGrad clinched the 1st CEG Trophy State level Team Chess Tournament 2022 due to better tie-break score. SSN had to settle for the second place. Five teams scored 12.0/16. Out of them, Velammal Engineering College secured the third place due to better tie-break score. The total prize fund for the tournament was ₹85000. CEG alumnus, India's 66th GM Akash G is the founder of Castle Red and Chess Grad. He played a keyrole in organizing this tournament. Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

Castle Red conducts State level team tournament for the first time

By Akash G

After being physically and mentally idle for nearly two years, due to the covid pandemic, the official chess club of the College of Engineering, Guindy, Castle Red, took the initiative in breaking the inertness of the mind. On the 7th and 8th of May 2022, Castle Red conducted their first-ever edition of the state-level open team chess tournament, CEG Trophy, at Vivekananda Auditorium, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai campus.

Champion - ChessGrad 15.0/16 | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

IM Muthaiah Al spearheaded the team with a 100% score 7.0/7

This tournament saw massive participation of 65 teams from all over Tamilnadu with 292 players who exhibited the sharpness of their minds and strategic preparations. Castle Red felt privileged to have Nanban Foundation, a non-profit organization, as their Title Sponsor. Castle Red is also extremely glad to have, GM Akash Ganesan an alumnus of CEG, Founder of both Castle Red and Chess Grad with them as constant support and guidance throughout the whole event. The event had a total prize fund of ₹85000

Runner-up - SSN College of Engineering 15.0/16 | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

Second Runner-up - Velammal Engineering College 12.0/16 | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

ChessGrad defeated Castle Red Team A 4-0 in the third round | Photo: ChessGrad

This tournament upheld the motto of Castle Red which is to promote and create interest in the game of Chess among young talents and graduate students. Thus, with the grand success of their very first tournament, Castle Red hopes for more successful endeavors in the future.

The tournament hall | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

Chief Guest Kutral Veerabadran Chairman & Founder Nanban Sports foundation, Udhay Jadhav President of Nanban Foundation, Venkatesan Pillai VP of Nanban Foundation attended via zoom meeting.

CastleRed Team, Volunteers & ChessGrad Team | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

The Arbiters | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

The event sponsors | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

Prize Distribution Ceremony | Photo: Akash G/Castle Red

L to R: Thangaraj (Staff Coordinator Castle Red), Srinivas (Nanban Foundation representative), Dr. Swaminathan (Anna University Sports Board Chairman), GM Akash (Founder & Club Advisor of Castle Red), Ravikumar (Chief Arbiter), Saroj (President of Castle Red), Speaker: Nivash (Nanban Foundation representative)

For more photos, please click here.

A total of 65 teams comprising 292 players including two IMs and a WIM participated from various colleges across Tamil Nadu. The two-day eight round Swiss league Team Championship was held on 7th and 8th May 2022 at College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai. It was organized by Castle Red, Anna University. The time control of the tournament was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final Standings

Rk.	SNo	Team	Games	+	=	-	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	1	Chess Grad	8	7	1	0	15	27,0	542,0
2	2	SSN	8	7	1	0	15	25,0	489,5
3	15	Velammal Engineering College	8	6	0	2	12	23,5	420,5
4	6	Vengeance	8	6	0	2	12	22,5	436,0
5	11	Castle Red Team A	8	6	0	2	12	22,0	388,8
6	9	Falcons	8	6	0	2	12	20,0	372,8
7	10	Bloom Chess Academy	8	6	0	2	12	19,0	314,5
8	3	Time2Chess A	8	5	1	2	11	22,5	426,3
9	8	Fab Five	8	5	1	2	11	21,5	363,5
10	7	Kathuvakkula 4 Peru	8	5	1	2	11	17,5	309,5