India wants to make 44th Chess Olympiad a symbol of pride

The tournament will see competitors from 187 countries compete until August 10.

PA

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1 min

The 44th Chess Olympiad opened on Friday July 29 in India.

The tournament will see players from 187 nations compete.

A first for the country which intends to assert its long tradition in the game.

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With our correspondent in Bangalore,

The competition was originally scheduled to take place in Russia, but the pandemic and then the outbreak of war in Ukraine prevented it.

Seizing the opportunity, it is therefore in just three months that India has organized this tournament which it intends to make a symbol of national pride. 

Until August 10, players will compete in the coastal city of Mamallapuram.

The inaugural ceremony was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, the city is nicknamed "the capital of chess" in India.

The approximately 2,000 tournament participants were greeted with great fanfare by a sound and light show.

A chance to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, usually political opponents, united in celebration.

Narendra Modi praised the speed of organizing such an event.

MK Stalin, on the other hand, underlined the historical roots of chess among Tamils. 

India have high hopes for their young players.

Four of the favorites are under 18.

Indian chess star Viswanathan Anand, multiple world champion, handed over the torch to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

This torch caused a new crisis with Pakistan, which canceled its participation, after it passed through the disputed region of Kashmir. 

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