Chennai is all set to welcome the international chess community to its sunny settings this July. The city will host the 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad scheduled between 26th July and 8th August. The decision came from the council members of FIDE who favoured the city for its annual event this year.
The actual schedule of the event is yet to be announced. Members of the council have said that all the details will be declared within a few days. The tournament is going to be held in Mahabalipuram, one of the most popular tourist spots in the southern part of India. The venue will be the convention centre at the Four Points by Sheraton.
India get its golden chance to host FIDE Chess Olympiad
This is the first time, in the past 43 years, that India gets to host the prestigious annual event. As stated by the press, the nation is delighted to host the 44th event and will ensure every facility to make the event the best-organised event since its integration.
After FIDE decided to pull off from Russia following the military operations against Ukraine, there was quite a scramble among FIDE federations to organise the Chess Olympiad. As stated by the government of Tamil Nadu, the state was able to pull the bid thanks to “tremendous effort and coordination” from the part of all officials from the state government as well as the team at AICF.
There will be 2000 participants hosted by Chennai in the chess event. Participants from more than two hundred countries will take part to compete for the medal for their countries. India as an organising country will get a chance to bring in numerous teams to enhance the chances of having podium consequences.
Chennai: the hot seat for chess in India
Tamil Nadu has always kept the sport close to its heart, especially with the Indian World Champion, Viswanathan Anand, hailing from the capital city. The spectacular rise of another teen prodigy Praggnanandhaa from the arid lands of the southern state has added fuel to the enthusiasm Tamilains cherish towards the brain game. GM Adhiban, GM Srinath and GM Vaishali.R. are other rising stars from Tamil Nadu.
The government of Tamil Nadu has always been an eager contributor to chess in India and has been promoting the sport from the school level. In 2020, the Tamil Nadu government promoted fourteen students who play chess for their state. This team of fourteen players took part in the FIDE Olympiad online in 2020 and won gold. Chennai had hosted the world chess championship in 2013, where Vishy Anand defeated the current world champion and prodigy Magnus Carlsen.
The government of Tamil Nadu in collaboration with the All India Chess Federation (AICF) is grateful to FIDE to have the opportunity to organise the chess Olympiad this year in Chennai. The government said that the effort and assistance of each officer who is associated with the government of Tamil Nadu has made this possible. Along with the team at the All India Chess Federation, the efforts of the honourable chief minister M.K. Stalin also made it possible to pitch the city as the perfect venue for this year’s event, trying to make it the best-hosted chess event.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) usually regulates the event of the Chess Olympiad. The FIDE council has upheld the tournament which is allotted by the AICF to organise the chess Olympiad in 2022 in Chennai.
The secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) Bharat Singh Chauhan stated that the previous experience acquired from the Delhi Open Chess tournament - one of the biggest gaming events of its kind - will help the Indian team very much. Chauhan also showed his belief in each of the team members and he believes that they will make it their best.
India looking forward to more chess grandmasters
The government believes that India has so many talented chess players who can flourish if given the right opportunities. Also, we need to nurture budding talents among the students and the youth in the nation by encouraging them and building in them a passion and enthusiasm for the game. We would surely see the rise of more skilled players who can represent India and represent the country in international chess tournaments.
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