31.1 C
Delhi

44th Chess Olympiad – The backroom story

New Delhi, April 12, 2022: The history will be scripted as India is all set to host the biggest chess event in the world, the Chess Olympiad, for the first time ever. The 44th edition of the extravaganza will be held later this year in the mecca of chess Chennai. The participant’s list will be a virtual who’s who with most of the stars from across the world participating from more than 150 countries.

“It’s a great honour for India to host such a big event. This shows the position of the country in the chess world. I’m thankful to everyone involved who supported us to make this happen. This is a historic step and I believe it will take Indian chess to greater heights,” said Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, All India Chess Federation (AICF), who played a crucial role in bringing the Olympiad to India.

Chess Olympiad
Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, All India Chess Federation (AICF) (File Photo)

Here are some interesting facts that led the 44th Chess Olympiad to become a reality for India

1. FIDE’s search for a new host post-Russia-Ukraine war

- Advertisement -TechnoSports-Ad

The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad was initially scheduled to take place in Russia. However, with the war-like situation between Russia and Ukraine, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) began searching for new hosts and invited new bidders.

2. A timely move by AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan

While the FIDE was looking for new hosts, All India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan sensed the opportunity. Having shared a good relationship and reputation with the international federation and its officials, Chauhan made a quick movement and got in touch with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. Within 24-hour time, using all his experience, Chauhan did some preliminary enquiries and immediately conveyed to the FIDE President that India was ready to bid in principle. With AICF’s willingness to leave no stone unturned went in India’s favour. After successfully getting the official rights to host the tournament, Chauhan sums up by saying, “Cannot complain about anything in life now.”

- Advertisement -TechnoSports-Ad
44th Chess Olympiad – The backroom story

3. Support from the Tamil Nadu government

Chauhan was at his best in setting up a quick and crucial meeting with Chief Minister Stalin, who instantly approved, assured and endorsed the government’s support for the event. Whole-hearted support by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin clinched it for Chennai. The city seeped in chess culture, and had earlier hosted the World Chess Championship in 2013 between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen. 1200 rooms for the participants were booked in a single day and the Convention Centre of Four Points Sheraton was decided as the playing venue.

4. Requisite $10 million guarantee

AICF were quick in its movements as it fulfilled the hosting criteria set by FIDE within less than a week. They were able to answer all the queries by FIDE satisfactorily, had all the plans in place and also ensured the $10 million guarantee. This made India’s bid stronger than most of the other countries and put them in a better position.

5. Chess great Anand’s endorsement of India’s bid: The five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand endorsed India’s bid which gave AICF a huge boost, according to Chauhan.

 The strong efforts from the federation and Secretary Chauhan brought the impossible to reality as FIDE granted India the rights to host the Olympiad which has been taking place for the last 95 years

  1. Chess Championships in India is mainly conducted by the All India Chess Federation. These tournaments have the national and international prestige. In India, the chess scenario is actually flourishing with some very talented youngsters who are willing to make it large in the international stage. In fact, India is sometimes considered as a chess powerhouse. With such a tremendous increase in the number of youngsters aspiring to take the game of chess, the domestic chess championships or tournaments have witnessed a strong competition as well as considerable improvement in overall standards.
    https://www.indianetzone.com/44/chess_championships_india.htm

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Raunak Saha
Raunak Saha
A cs engineer by profession but foodie from heart. I am tech lover guy who has a passion for singing. Football is my love and making websites is my hobby.
TechnoSports-Ad

Popular

TechnoSports-Ad

Related Stories

More from author

The new Honor Pad 9 goes on sale today, starting at ₹22,499

In a remarkable move, Honor, a renowned global smart device provider, has rolled out the highly-anticipated Honor Pad 9! This cutting-edge tablet is equipped...

Bigg Boss Vote 2024: Unveiling the Power of Viewers

Bigg Boss Vote 2024: How to Vote and All Details Reality TV has, over the years, evolved into a genre that commands substantial viewership. One...

Vi revises existing ₹129 and ₹298 plans with more benefits as of 28th March 2024

Vodafone Ide­a or Vi, also known as Vi, recently unveile­d their revamped ₹129 and ₹298 plans, aiming to offer enhanced value amidst the­ intensifying...

Airtel Balance Check Codes: Top 5 Methods as of March 28

Airtel Balance Check Codes: A Total Guide in 2024 As an Airtel customer, it's crucial to be aware of your remaining balance to avoid unexpected...