Probably the most chess-crazy city in the world, the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai, is hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad.
The event was originally supposed to take place in Russia, but the governing body Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) decided against it in view of the Russian war of aggression. Now the Olympics will take place in and around Chennai until August 10th, for the first time ever in India.
Enthusiasm has not just been felt everywhere since the Olympics: Chess academies and associations, manufacturers and sellers of chess products can be found in many places in the city. Recently, a well-known white and black bridge was transformed into a kind of large chess board. Some children there start playing chess at the age of six or younger. Many neighborhoods have chess clubs that they attend after school or on weekends.
Most of India’s chess grandmasters also come from the state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital. Grandmaster is the highest title awarded by the governing body FIDE. Among the grandmasters is 16-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who has already beaten world chess champion Magnus Carlsen. According to the organizers, Carlsen should also be present at the 44th Chess Olympiad. In total, more than 300 teams from 185 countries would take part – but not from Russia, Belarus and China.
There was also a new ceremony with a torch relay through India, which according to the umbrella organization FIDE should not only remain, but be expanded. As before the Olympic Games, the torch relay of the Chess Olympiad will in future lead through all continents.
Incidentally, there are indications that chess originally came from India. Ancient Indian scriptures describe the game of Chaturanga, which bears similarities to modern chess. Four players fight against each other with infantry, cavalry, elephants and charioteers.
