Hyderabad is a very fascinating city when it comes to the likes of chess players, it is quite possibly the
single greatest concentration of high level players in the entire country, which is astounding considering
the meagre population it hosts within itself. However, unfitting of its reputation housing such chess
giants in the community, it lacks participation from players who are less skilled and experienced with the
sport. Aware of this gap between the levels of players, and wanting to give players who might not
otherwise have had an opportunity to participate in tournaments, the Anees Hassan School launched a
chess tournament within its parameters. With assistance from the Sindh chess Association and the
Hyderabad Chess Association, it was divided into three main categories. The Men’s under 16 section, the
Women’s under 16 section, and the open rapid championship open to everyone willing to participate.
Out of these three categories, Beaconhouse Qasimabad Campus, participated in two of them and
subsequently won in both of them. The open was, as we can only describe it, a massacre. The second
best chess player to ever grace Pakistan participated, and represented Beaconhouse at the Open
championship. He, National Master Hafeez-ul-Rehman, won effortlessly and brought the first placement
home. However, the Men’s under 16 was much more eventful as competition was fierce. Out of the
hundred or so participants involved, only six came from our school. And yet, through trials and
tribulations, came out as the six position holders. From the first place, to sixth, all of them represented
our school and secured what could unanimously be called a victory for Beaconhouse Qasimabad Campus.
The competition began at around 10 am, and lasted until 5 pm, lasting an egregious 7 hours throughout. Although all the six participants came from the same home soil, competition against each other was not uncommon as when in a tournament, you do not see who you represent, but rather only see yourself. The lead
fluctuated, with it finally being surrendered to Muhammad Mujtaba by Muhammad Juman Junejo. Third
and fourth were often engaged in skirmishes over the checkered sixty-four squares, having the
placement often sway between them. Finally, after a grueling 7 hours of playing, Sir Mujtaba of the
Hyderabad Chess Association crowning Muhammad Mujtaba the champion of the Men’s under 16, and
heralding Muhammad Juman as the runner-up; as well as announcing the results of all who followed.
The third was Yassal Memon, the fourth was the editor of this very blog, Syed Haseeb Raza, the fifth was
the favorite amongst them, having a prior reputation of winning tournaments, Hasnain Ali, and the sixth
was another of our own students, Vineet Rai.
It was truly an honor for Beaconhouse Qasimabad Campus to participate in such a prestigious event, and we, from Beaconhouse, sincerely hope the best for all who participated in their future chess endeavors. We thank
the Hyderabad Chess Association for hosting this event and we thank Anees Hassan for choosing to be
the venue of this tournament.
“To know a man fully, you must engage him in a game of play; For a single hour of chess tells more
about a person than years of conversation”-Garry Kasparov, longest reigning World Champion.