410 Students Take Part in National Chess Championship at ITB Jatinangor Campus

November 07, 2023 - ( update : 06-12-2023 )

By Anggun Nindita

Editor Anggun Nindita

JATINANGOR, itb.ac.id - Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Alumni from the class of 86 held a National Inter-Student Chess Championship "ITB 86 Bidak Ganesha" at the Gedung Olahraga (GOR) ITB Jatinangor Campus, Sunday (05/11/2023). This year’s competition is the third time it has been held.

A total of 410 students participated in this championship. The number has increased significantly compared to 2016 (100 participants) and 2019 (240 participants). Seeing the great enthusiasm of the participants and the extensive conditions of the ITB GOR, Coordinator of "ITB 86 Bidak Ganesha" Bayu Hanggoro assessed that the organizers were ready to handle 650-700 participants at the next event.

Hundreds of participants will compete using the Swiss system of 7 rounds of 15' + 5' time control to win a total prize of IDR 86 million. There were 9 categories being contested; SD/MI (elementary school) 1st-3rd Grade Boys and Girls, SD/MI 4th-6th Grade Boys and Girls, SMP/MTs (junior high school) Boys and Girls, SMA/MA (senior high school) Boys and Girls, as well as a new category PAUD/TK (Pre-school).

“We give children the opportunity to try practicing and competing in chess in the right way, with the right methods. We deliberately opened it to those who have or have never participated in a match," said Bayu.

This 1986 ITB Civil Engineering alumnus advised that this event is an opportunity to find friends with similar hobbies and make new friends from all over Indonesia.

“Don't be surprised, don't be confused, just go with the flow!” Bayu said. He led participants to enjoy taking part in the competition, and was sure that each participant had properly prepared intense tires for this competition. He also stated that opponents in competitions are not enemies but friends.

Head of the ITB Alumni Office, Dede Koswara, A.Md., S.T., appreciated this event as a form of optimizing the Jatinangor Campus. Apart from enlivening the campus, ITB 86 Bidak Ganesha supports the birth of chess athletes who can later contribute to achievements for West Java and even Indonesia. Furthermore, currently alumni, sports, and arts activities are directed to the Jatinangor Campus considering the adequate facilities.

Reporter: Muh Umar Thoriq

Translator: Ayesha Lativa Mafaza (Postharvest Technology ‘21)

Editor: Hanna Daniela Ayu (Aerospace Engineering, 2021)