A proud second says Viswanathan Anand as Chennai chosen to host forty fourth Olympiad
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Legendary Viswanathan Anand says it’s a proud second for Chennai and the chess fraternity within the nation because the capital metropolis of Tamil Nadu has been chosen to host the Chess Olympiad, later this yr.
The forty fourth Olympiad, which was presupposed to happen in Moscow, was shifted out of Russia within the aftermath of its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on February 24. The prestigious occasion is tentatively scheduled to be held between July 26 and August 8.
State Chief Minister M Okay Stalin himself introduced the information on twitter late on Tuesday night time after Chennai was awarded the correct to host the celebrated occasion for the fist time ever.
Delighted that the Chess Capital of India is about to host the forty fourth Chess Olympiad! A proud second for Tamil Nadu! Chennai warmly welcomes all of the Kings and Queens from all over the world!#ChessOlympiad2022
— M.Okay.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 15, 2022
“Thank you sir for making Chennai all about chess ! A proud moment for all of Indian and Chennai chess community. Chennai Chess always has a nice ring to it. The efforts of @aicfchess and @FIDE_chess in working together so swiftly is to be commended,” Anand wrote, reacting Stalin’s tweet.
“Delighted that the Chess Capital of India is set to host the 44th Chess Olympiad! A proud moment for Tamil Nadu! Chennai warmly welcomes all the Kings and Queens from around the world! #ChessOlympiad2022,” Stalin wrote.
World chess federation FIDE tweeted, “Chennai is home to legendary @vishy64theking, and it hosted the 2013 World Championship Match, where Magnus Carlsen was first crowned World Champion, defeating Vishy Anand.”
The former world champion reacted to that too, writing, “Like we say Vanakkam Chennai !!” Anand had additionally despatched a letter to the FIDE by which he mentioned that it was a way of private delight to see the nation being a number to one of many high occasions within the calendar.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, who can be a Chairman of the FIDE Technical Commission (TEC), felt they have already got expertise of internet hosting massive occasions and it ought to assist them.
“The experience with Delhi Chess Open, the largest event of its kind in the world, will be a big help, as we have already dealt with large numbers. But the Olympiad is a big game. I am sure we will make it the best,” he was quoted as saying by the FIDE web site.
Noted coach V Saravanan, an International Master, mentioned, “An excellent development, fantastic achievement by the Federation to secure the tournament for India. Second thing, it is being held in Chennai, obviously the chess capital of India.”
“I am sure for the infrastructure we have here and the organisational capacity, I think we can pull it off. Fantastic news for the chess players and the chess community as well,” he added.
Many chess lovers felt that it was apt that Chennai will get to host the Olympiad given the stature town enjoys as a cradle for the mind-game within the nation.
The chess Olympiad could be the second main world occasion to be held within the nation after the World Championship Match in 2013 between Anand and Norwegian Carlsen, the present world No.1.
