Indian Chess Olympiad Squad Awaited Amid Delay

The Indian Chess Olympiad team, for the event in Budapest this September, will be announced within a week following a month's delay. The All India Chess Federation's selection process has extended the announcement, prompting concerns among players about preparation and participation. The tournament begins on September 10.

After a month's delay, the Indian squad for the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September will be finalised in 'a week's time,' according to the All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang.

'The selection process is underway, and the team should be finalised in a week,' Narang told PTI, without specifying the cause of the delay.

The tournament in Hungary starts on September 10 and, as per guidelines, the squad was originally slated for an announcement three months prior.

According to a top official, the 'selection process took time,' affecting the players' preparations.

The announcement is crucial for the AICF to allow participating players to plan and train efficiently in advance.

However, the unexpected delay has caused frustration among certain players, who remain uncertain about their participation.

'I am not sure about my participation since the team hasn't been announced yet,' Indian GM Harika Dronavalli, who was part of the women's bronze-medal-winning team last year, told PTI.

'I have a few tournaments lined up. Hopefully, the (team) announcement comes soon so I can plan accordingly,' Harika added, noting that the AICF had reached out to her for the Olympiad, but she was not aware of the selection details.

India hosted the previous edition of the Olympiad in 2022, winning bronze in both Open and Women's categories.

In the Open event, the Indian team included D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, R Praggnanandhaa, Adhiban Baskaran, and Raunak Sadhwani.

Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Rameshbabu Vaishali, Tania Sachdev, and Bhakti Kulkarni secured the bronze in the Women's section.

India also fielded a second team in the Open category, featuring Pentala Harikrishna, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan, and Krishnan Sasikiran, who finished fourth overall.

The Indian team won the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy for the highest number of match points in the combined Open and Women's categories.

This will be the 45th edition of the Olympiad, and Hungary will officially host for the first time, previously hosting the second unofficial Chess Olympiad in 1926.

The AICF had earlier indicated that the team selection would be completed in June.

'The Indian team for the Olympiad will be selected three months before the scheduled start of the event based on the average rating from April, May, and June 2024 FRLs,' according to the release.

Players needed to have played at least nine games by June this year to qualify.

(Disclaimer: With inputs from agencies.)