Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: Fund crunch and no support from state government and different organisations have created obstacle for Orissa’s youngest international chess master Debashis Das ‘s hope to become World Grand Master . Meanwhile, his harassed mother has sought the intervention of district administration to promote her son’s sportsmanship to achieve glory for the state as well as nation.

Das, an outstanding world ranking youngest international chess master of Champeswar village under Naugaon block of Jagatsinghpur district has glorified the name of this district in national and international level in the field chess tournament. Now he is reading class X at B.N.High School, Kantapada of Cuttack district where his father Dillip Das is working as assistant surgeon in veterinary department. Strong determination and will power has made the life of Debashis success by wining different chess tournaments in national and international level.

He has obtained Four IM norms, two golds (individual and tem, one silver and three bronze medals to his credit. He participated 6th Parsvnath international chess in New Delhi where he achieved 1st IM norm, Bronze medal from Asian Youth Chess under 18, bronze medals & 2nd IM norm and Gold medal from World Youth Chess U-16 in Vietnam, 3rd IM norm from 11th Dubai Open, 4th IM norm from 14th Balaguer Open in Spain, bronze medal from Asian Youth U 18, New Delhi and Gold & Silver from World Youth Chess Olympiad in Turkey. Debashis has been selcted as youngest international master by obtaining four IM Norms and 2400 towards rating. He has high ambition in chess field so his hope has to achieve Grand Master within one year.

Speaking about his next goal, he said ‘he must win Grand Master by the blessings of his parent and inspiration of my colleague. But financial crisis stood as barrier to my path of success. In spite of financial hardships, he worked hard to achieve this glory ‘. Lot of money will be required for his chess career and needed foreign grand master coaching and –playing foreign tournament. Nearly 40 to 50 lakhs will be required towards this tournament but his hopes have been shattered due to fund crunch.

Following tournaments Hasting International Chest Fest in England, Prague Open 2010, Marienbad Open 2010, ISCU Grand Prix 2010 in Moscow, Novybor Open 2010, Cux (Haven) Open in Gergia and Dubai Open in Dubai are in ahead in which he has estimated Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh to participate in this tournaments.

His mother Namita says, her son has developed his own style and technique and also defeated many senior players. If state government and organizations will extend their support then my son would achieve grand master for bringing laurels to the state as well as nation. She has sought the intervention of district administration to provide financial support sponsorship for her son. On the other hand, his father Dillip has expressed his sorrow that he has availed loan in which he is getting meager amount so it is very difficult to maintain his livelihood so how could I offer towards said purpose. - He asked.

Meanwhile, district collector Mr Gaynranjan Dash has praised the outstanding performance of Debashis so that he has requested the authority of PPL, IFFCO AND ESSAR to promote sportsmanship in chess career.