The Most Player-Friendly Tournament in India? Inside the VIT-AP Amaravati

Interview with Mr KVV Sarma, Chairman of Andhra Chess Association.

Q. How did this very special tournament at the VIT university come about - is this the first time the event has been held on such a large scale?

A. The idea of organising the VIT-AP Amaravati Chess Festival came from a shared vision between the Andhra Chess Association and VIT-AP University to create one of the biggest and most player-friendly chess events in India. Andhra Pradesh has produced many talented chess players over the years, and we felt the time was right to host a world-class chess festival that would inspire young players and provide them with an unforgettable experience.

Yes, this is one of the first times such a large-scale chess festival is being organised in this format at a university campus in Andhra Pradesh. The combination of international-level playing conditions, large participation, excellent infrastructure, and complete hospitality support makes this event truly unique. We wanted to create not just a tournament, but a chess celebration where players, parents, coaches, and chess lovers from across the country can come together.

Q. Can you please share with us the structure of the tournament, rather than the Chess Festival, as there are 2 different categories with a huge number of players in action!

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A. This is truly a Chess Festival in every sense. The event has been carefully structured to accommodate players of different strength levels and age groups while maintaining a highly professional playing environment.

The festival consists of two major categories:

Open – International/Open category featuring titled players, strongly rated players, and emerging talents from across India and abroad.

Below 1800 – Intermediate level category for developing competitive players.

Overall, the event is expected to attract a massive number of participants from multiple states and countries. The tournament venue inside the VIT-AP campus has been designed to handle large-scale participation with excellent playing halls, dining facilities, accommodation arrangements, transport coordination, and technical infrastructure. What makes this festival even more special is that it combines competitive chess with hospitality, comfort, and a festival atmosphere, something rarely seen in Indian chess events.

Q. How was it to put together this event, and how has the support been from the VIT University?

A. Organising an event of this magnitude is certainly a huge challenge, but it has also been an extremely rewarding experience. Planning started many months in advance, with coordination required across tournament operations, accommodation, transport, food, technical arrangements, volunteer management, and player services.

The support from VIT-AP University has been extraordinary. From the university leadership to the administrative teams, everyone has shown tremendous enthusiasm and commitment towards making this festival a grand success. The infrastructure available at the VIT-AP campus is world-class, and the university immediately understood the importance of creating a landmark sporting event through chess.

What impressed us most was the university’s willingness to support the players and parents beyond the tournament itself. Their cooperation allowed us to think bigger and provide facilities that are rarely offered in chess tournaments anywhere in the country.

Q. There is a very special thing you guys have done - free food and AC accommodation for the first 500 under-15 registered players, and an accompanying parent! How did this idea come about?

A. One of the biggest challenges for young chess players and their families is the financial burden of travel, accommodation, and food during major tournaments. Many talented children miss opportunities simply because tournament participation becomes expensive for families.

We wanted to change that.

The Andhra Chess Association and VIT-AP University jointly felt that if we truly want to encourage grassroots chess development, we must support not only the players but also the parents who sacrifice so much for their children’s careers. That is how the idea was born to provide free food and AC accommodation for the first 500 registered Under-15 players, along with one accompanying parent. This is probably one of the largest hospitality support initiatives ever attempted in an Indian chess event. The response from players and parents across the country has been phenomenal. We believe this initiative will motivate many young talents to participate fearlessly and focus entirely on their chess.

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Q. A message for all the participants of the tournament?

A. We warmly welcome all players, parents, coaches, arbiters, and chess enthusiasts to the VIT-AP Amaravati Chess Festival. This event is not just about winning trophies or prizes,, it is about learning, competing, making friendships, and experiencing the spirit of chess at the highest level. We encourage every participant to give their best, maintain sporting spirit, and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere created at the VIT-AP campus. For young players especially, this festival is an opportunity to dream bigger, gain confidence, and take one more step forward in their chess journey. We are committed to providing the best possible experience for every participant, and we hope this festival becomes a memorable milestone in Indian chess.

Starting Rank Open

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Starting Rank Below- 1800

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