CHESS IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN INDIA

Latest Context

The once-niche game of chess is suddenly becoming immense popular in India. The sport is making waves on the international level thanks to an increasing number of followers and excellent players.

• Recent champion of the Sharjah masters International Chess Championship 2023 was GM Arjun Erigaisi.
• An annual chess competition known as the Sharjah Master's International Chess Championship is held at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
• Chess players will have the chance to compete and improve their skills, and it aims to promote chess as a sport and a cultural activity in Sharjah and the surrounding area.

Factors for Chess Popularity in India

Excellent Indian Players:

• Young chess players from India with exceptional skill include D. Gukesh (World No. 18), Arjun Erigaisi (World No. 37), R. Praggnanandhaa (World No. 47), and Nihal Sarin (World No. 64).
• The fact that India is ranked No. 2 in the world in terms of chess shows how dominant the nation is in the game.
• The next generation of Indian players is mentored by five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand.

Success on the world Stage:

• The outstanding results of Indian chess players at the world level have boosted the popularity of the game there.
• Talented players have emerged and there are many bright adolescents, which has increased interest in the game.
• Chennai hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad in 2022. The famous contest, which has been held annually since 1927, is being held in Asia for the first time in 30 years and for the first time in India.

Progress of Chess Academies:

• The founding of the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy has been essential in fostering emerging talent and offering it direction.
• The quality of Indian chess has improved as a result of Viswanathan Anand's participation in coaching talented players.
• Chess training centres and academies have made it possible for young fans to improve their game.

Rising Media Coverage and Spectator Engagement:

• The Chess Olympiad and Tata Steel Chess India have both recently received a great deal of media interest.
• Thousands of spectators and fans now attend live chess events, increasing spectator involvement and fan engagement.
• A larger audience now has easier access to chess because to improved media coverage and online streaming.

All India Chess Federation (AICF):

• It was established in 1951 and is affiliated to Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the world body for chess.
• Role of AICF:

1. Organizing national-level tournaments.
2. Supporting player development and training.
3. Representing India in international chess organizations.
4. Recognising and nurturing young talent.
5. Enabling participation in international tournaments.
6. Promoting for chess inclusion in school curricula.

Challenges

• Less media coverage compared to other sports.
• Corporate sponsorships and financial support for top competitions are lacking.
• Need to identify talent and place more attention on women's chess.

World Titles Won by Indians

1. Viswanathan Anand: Indian chess player with the most titles, having won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012. The World Blitz Chess Championship was won by him in 2000, and he also triumphed in the World Rapid Chess Championship in 2003 and 2017. He is the only chess player to have achieved world dominance in all three chess variants.
2. Koneru Humpy: The top-ranked female Indian chess player, who took home the title of Women's World Rapid Chess Champion in 2019. In 2019–2020, she was the Women's Grand Prix series champion.
3. Harika Dronavalli: The second-ranked female chess player in India, who in 2012, 2015, and 2017 took home the bronze medal in the Women's World Chess Championship. In Chengdu in 2016, she also triumphed in the FIDE Women's Grand Prix competition.
4. R Praggnanandhaa: The 2019 World Youth Chess Championship (under-18) was won by the most promising young Indian grandmaster, who is also the youngest grandmaster in the world. In 2021, he also prevailed in the open Asian Continental Chess Championship.

Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022:

1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India.

2. The official mascot was named Thambi'.

3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.

4. The trophy for the winning team in the women's section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Ans: (b)

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