Majumdar: A passionate promoter of chess passes away

Time of India

4 days ago

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Kolkata: Indian chess lost one of its greatest supporters with the passing of Soumen Majumdar in the early hours on Wednesday in the city. Majumdar was 69 and is survived by wife and a son.
Very few organisers had such an impact on the sports and the players as that of Majumder. Associated closely with the Alekhine Chess Club in the city, Majumder was instrumental in organising India's first GM tournament — Goodricke International tournament — for more than a decade. He also brought the Asian Individual Championship to Kolkata in 2003.
Unlike many other organisers, it was always players first for Majumder, who extended a helping hand to them with a smile.
That's why he remained the loving 'Soumen uncle' to most young chess players who went on to shine at the world stage.
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He also served the All India Chess Federation as its treasurer.
Majumder was truly a Mr Dependable every player used to look for while in the city and that included international stars from former world champion Vasily Smyslov, Nigel Short to India's Viswanathan Anand, Dibyendu Barua, K Sasikiran, P Harikrishna, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Sandipan Chanda and others.
Young generation GMs from the city like Diptayan Ghosh, Sayantan Das, Koustav Chatterjee and others always remember Majumder's help during their formative days as chess players.
"Soumen Majumdar was one of the most enthusiastic organisers," Anand posted on X.
"He always thought big and was passionate about the game. When I landed in Kolkata after winning Regio Emilia, the motorcade from the tarmac to my hotel is a memory that is one of my most cherished.
The Goodricke events were a landmark event in those… His smiling face and enthusiasm will always be special."
Barua too fondly remembered Majumder's contribution. "He was one of the greatest promoters and true enthusiasts of chess in India. A visionary and passionate organiser, Soumenda played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian chess scene during the 1980s and 1990s, when international exposure was rare and difficult to come by for the Indian players.
"His relentless efforts gave Indian players a platform to showcase their talent and gain invaluable experience," Barua wrote on social media.