About Lucknow Chess Centre

Lucknow Chess Centre was incorporated in August-2011, but the foundation stone was laid actually a long period back in the mind of a man Sayeed Ahmad, almost 30 years back of this time.

Sayeed Ahmad, a man known as the one who has given his body and soul to chess and now his identity can be better termed as soul made for chess. But this saga of journey was never handy and took many an ordeal to mature to this stage. It started as his first tournament of state level that is UP state chess championship at Jhansi in 1984 and could not make it and never to accept defeat mind set prompted him to put more & more practice and studying strategic moves. He appeared in next UP State chess championship in 1985 at Kanpur and won the state Title.

And then it was the 1986 where a big success came to his platter as he won GOLD MEDAL in National Team Championship in Kurushetra ,Haryana and subsequently SILVER MEDAL in same event in 1987 also.

Now the journey had begun not to look back, he went on representing UP in National chess championship in Bombay (Maharashtra) in the same year and once again destiny probably had something better to give him as he missed his selection with half point, but then came a breakthrough by his selection in CRPF in sports quota of chess and he went on representing CRPF in many open and National championship in almost all major states.

It was year 2010, when he was on 60 days earned leave to his home town Lucknow, an opportunity came to visit K.D. Babu stadium where District level chess tournament was taking place and it gave him heartfelt thought to see the pathetic standard and number of players, totally shocked- came back to home and thought over some days and ultimately decided to give what he possesses the most, to their upliftment. He called on Mr. A.K.Raizada, General Secretary of UP Chess sports Association, to plan to change the facia of Lucknow and UP chess.

This feeling to do something to chess was so intense that a life time decision was taken by him and he took voluntary retirement in 2011 from CRPF as Asstt. Comdt, Whereas his next promotion to deputy Comdt. was due within next year, but never looked back to change his decision. Though this decision was not unanimously bought by his kins and well wishers but one person stood by him “Mrs. Shagufta” his life partner who went on to support by every nook and corner, though she was also a UP state govt. employee but kept her support continued despite her busy schedules and lately resigned in 2008 to support fully to family and him.

And finally a golden chapter was written for 25 years of service of CRPF  where he was expert of Departmental enquiries and Court of Enquiries in his sector. Not only this- A Fire Fighter, disaster relief instructor , weapon & tactics instructor , medical rescue and resuscitation course holder, human rights instructor, Drill instructor from IMA Dehradun and a commando itself, such are the accolades owned by him.

Apart from this he has penned a book of CRPF training “Constable to Asstt. Comdt.” And in all training of CRPF, this book is most sought after material and very popular among trainees. And he never cared to went to copyright it even, but these all never could go ahead to his interest of chess and striving to deliver the best is being continued……………………….