Hello !!

Hello,

As a parent of a chess player I felt the need for a common platform for all like minded people to share their views and general information on the game in Mumbai. This is an attempt in that direction.

Yesterday (26.08.2007), an Inter School Team Chess Tournament was held at Mulund Vidya Mandir by Dr. Prakash Vaze. Since the school was interested in participating in the tournament, I accompanied my son against the advice of well wishers who were aware of and apprised me of the lack of facilities and mismanagement at Dr.Vaze's tournaments.

However, I was in for a shock when I reached the tournament venue. There was one open hall where anyone and everyone could enter. There was no mike and and no one to direct the students what to do. No pairing was put up. Schools were haphazardly being paired up. Some students did not have chairs to sit. Parents had already started getting restless as it was ten o'clock and the tournament had not started (scheduled time was 9 o'clock)

At ten thirty, parents started protesting. They wanted to walk out of the tournament and wanted a refund but Dr. Vaze was in no mood for it. He kept assuring us parents that everything was in order and the tournament would go on as scheduled. At eleven o'clock some teams had started playing their first match amidst this pandemonium (Some students has still not managed to find a place to sit)

At eleven o'clock, all hell broke loose. Some agitated parents called in the police after repeated requests for a refund fell on deaf ears. Soon after the police arrived, parents who had made spot payment of tournament fee received their refunds while those whose fees had been through the school were told that their refund would be made to the school.

I am not sure what was the fate of the tournament as I left soon after I received my refund. The event had evoked an overwhelming response and I feel sorry for the game as it was the biggest loser