3 days ago
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At 60, Ebenezer Joseph is simply a bundle of energy. He coaches children, trains teachers, competes successful tournaments and besides serves arsenic counsellor for acquisition institutions, powerfully advocating the inclusion of chess successful schoolhouse curricula.
Recently, the Anna Nagar resident, who works arsenic an Audit Supervisor successful the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (IA & AD) astatine the Finance and Audit Office successful Egmore, made headlines aft winning 3 golden medals successful the classical, accelerated and blitz events successful the 60+ class astatine the Commonwealth Chess Championships held successful Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
Ebenezer was thrilled with the achievement, particularly since helium had lone hoped to instrumentality with astatine slightest a bronze medal. “I expected to triumph 1 bronze medal, but to triumph 3 golden medals was unbelievable. Though I won successful the 60+ category, I played successful the Open conception alongside apical young Grandmasters specified arsenic P. Iniyan and S. Rohith Krishna, too FIDE Master Sakline Mostafa Sajid, Candidate Master S. Sivathanujan and Woman Candidate Master Ananya Raman. It felt great,” helium said.
Speaking astir the demands of competing successful 3 formats, which often meant spending agelong hours astatine the board, Ebenezer said the tourney was physically and mentally exhausting. “The unit was immense due to the fact that connected definite days we had to play arsenic galore arsenic 8 rounds. My matches started astatine 4 p.m. and finished astatine 8 p.m., truthful overmuch truthful that connected the past time I hardly knew what was happening connected the board!” helium said with a smile.
Having spent much than 34 years with the Indian Audit & Accounts Department, Ebenezer felt the process of obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from employers to enactment successful planetary tournaments should beryllium simplified. “When a subordinate is representing the country, the process of getting an NOC from the leader to instrumentality portion successful an planetary lawsuit should beryllium made easier,” helium said.
Ebenezer continues to equilibrium his nonrecreational commitments with his passionateness for chess and societal service. “I volition proceed playing, proceed trying to assistance much sportspeople get recruited into Government offices and proceed moving with tribal communities,” said the 60-year-old, who is besides a Senior Lead Instructor for FIDE Chess successful Education Commission and is acceptable to discontinue from IA & AD successful November this year.
