Cradle of Indian Chess, Chennai, Wins Bid to Host Olympiad

CHENNAI (IANS) – The cradle of Indian chess, Chennai, will be the venue for the 44th Chess Olympiad to be held during Jul.-Aug. this year.

The venue will be the convention Centre at the Four Points by Sheraton, located in the Mahabalipuram area, one of the main tourist destinations in southern India.

The International Chess Federation or FIDE on Mar.15 approved the bid offered by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) to host the mega biennial event that will see about 190 nations competing for the medals.

The AICF had suggested Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu as the venue.

“The exact schedule is still being discussed and will be announced in the coming days, but the event will take place between the end of Jul. and the beginning of Aug., not very far off from the dates originally planned,” FIDE said.

The AICF was the first to submit its bid to host the Olympiad, a sort of bail out for FIDE at the last moment.

Subsequently, FIDE decided to invite bids from other nations and fixed Mar. 10 as the last date for receipt of bids.

“Around 2,500 persons — chess players, coaches, team managers, chess officials from different countries, journalists and others — will arrive at the city where the Chess Olympiad is held,” British Grandmaster and FIDE vice-president Nigel Short said.

Even before getting the actual mandate to hold the mega global chess event, the AICF officials had checked out the facilities available in Delhi and Chennai, such as hotels, transport as well as the unwinding options for the players.

Chennai is not only the home of former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, India’s first chess Grandmaster, but also the home of Manuel Aaron, the country’s first chess International Master.

That apart young talents like GM Praggnanandha, GM Gukesh, GM Adhiban, GM Srinath and others also hail from Chennai.