Lucknow: FunTura, the indoor amusement and family entertainment destination at Lulu Mall Lucknow, successfully hosted a two-day FunTura Chess Tournament on July 25 and 26, bringing together hundreds of chess enthusiasts from across Uttar Pradesh. Held at Atrium-1 of Lulu Mall, the event attracted 330 participants from 26 districts, making it one of the largest and most vibrant chess competitions organised at the mall to date.
The tournament featured competitions across multiple categories, including Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-19, Women, Open and Veteran, providing players of all age groups with an opportunity to showcase their strategic skills and competitive spirit.
Designed to promote intellectual development, analytical thinking and sportsmanship, the event saw enthusiastic participation from students representing schools, chess academies and independent clubs. Participants demonstrated exceptional discipline, concentration and tactical ability throughout the tournament.
The event was attended by Jayakumar Gangadharan, Director – UP, Delhi and Telangana, Lulu Group, who highlighted the importance of intellectual and skill-based competitions in nurturing young minds. He said such initiatives play a significant role in the mental development of children and youth and reaffirmed Lulu Group’s commitment to supporting platforms that encourage talent and positive community engagement.
Biju Sugathan, Regional Director – UP, Delhi and Telangana, Lulu Group, described chess as much more than a sport, noting that it develops strategic thinking, patience and sound decision-making abilities.
Congratulating the participants, Sameer Verma, Regional Manager – UP, Delhi and Telangana, Lulu Group, said competitions of this nature foster analytical thinking, discipline and healthy competition among young people while inspiring them to strive for excellence.
Wasim Ahmad Khan, Operations Manager, Lulu FunTura, expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming response to the tournament. He said FunTura aims to go beyond entertainment by promoting learning, skill development and family engagement through educational and sporting events. He added that the organisation will continue hosting similar knowledge-based, sports and community-focused initiatives to provide children, youth and families with meaningful opportunities to learn, compete and grow.
The tournament concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony, where winners across all categories were felicitated and every participant was recognised for their dedication and sporting spirit. With participation from 26 districts and 330 players, the event earned state-level recognition and further strengthened FunTura’s position as a leading destination for family entertainment, community engagement and talent development in Lucknow.
