Goa to host World Chess Championship for players with disabilities

Panaji: The Chess Federation for Physically Disabled under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) will organise the 24th edition of the IPCA World Chess Championship 2025 in Goa.The International Association of Chess with Physical Disability (IPCA) is an international federation that unites disabled chess players. All players with a physical disability of 50% and above are eligible to participate in the championship which will be held at the International Centre from July 21 to July 31 this year.The championship will be played under FIDE’s Laws of Chess and the Swiss system. A total of nine rounds shall be played in each category of Standard, Rapid and Blitz.The World Chess Championship is expected to bring together over 100 top players from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Israel, Poland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany, South Africa, UAE, Sri Lanka and India.Among the notable international participants are IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel), FM Molenda Marcin (Poland), FM Severino Sander (Philippines), IM Obodchuk Andrei, FM Valenta Vit Vaclav (Czech Republic), CM Samarth Rao (India), and FM Venkata Krishna Karthick, the Asian Para Champion from India.Sanjay Kavlekar and Amrut Naik from Goa are also likely to compete.“This championship has received enthusiastic endorsements from renowned national and international personalities and reflects India’s commitment to creating accessible, inclusive platforms for global sporting excellence,” the organisers said in a statement on Wednesday. “It resonates with the spirit of Purple Fest, Goa’s internationally recognised celebration of the talent and achievements of persons with disabilities, highlighting the power of chess as a unifying and empowering force.”The last edition of the IPCA World Chess Championship was held in Gyumri, Armenia. India’s CM Samarth J Rao won a silver in the men’s wheelchair category.