Goa's 14-year-old Leon Mendonca becomes India's 67th Grandmaster
Other Sports | Dec 31, 2020, 02:06 PM ISTMendonca, who achieved the feat at 14 years, 9 months and 17 days, is the second GM from the coastal state.
Mendonca, who achieved the feat at 14 years, 9 months and 17 days, is the second GM from the coastal state.
During normal times, state chess tournaments and others would have been held but it was not to be this year, the official added.
The top-seeded Indians, who were sixth after three rounds, were held to a 2-2 draw by a strong Kazakhstan team, seeded second, in the sixth round.
Te Indian chess team recently emerged joint champions (with Russia) at the recently-concluded FIDE online Chess Olympiad.
The Tamil Nadu player scored seven and half points out of a possible nine with six victories and three draws to finish on top, ahead of many higher-rated Grandmasters, a press release said on Thursday.
The former world champion said "most Indian parents are right" that chess will help their children do better in school.
Vaishali registered a 6-5 win over Bulgarian opponent late on Wednesday after having beaten strong players like Valentina Gunina and Alina Kashlinskaya in the qualifying stages.
USA will meet China in Sunday's Superfinal after they beat the top seeds 2.5-1.5 in the final round later in the day.
India were held to a 2-2 draw against Europe in the Online Nations Cup Chess tournament.
Five-time world champion Anand was in Germany to take part in the Bundesliga chess tournament and before he could return, the travel restrictions came calling in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
British chess legend and FIDE (world chess federation) vice-president Nigel Short, who participated, said he was glad to be of help in the fight against COVID-19.
Secretary and convenor of the five-member panel Naresh Sharma took strong objections to Despande's recent statement against the decisions taken by the AICF general body meeting held online recently.
The 50-year-old reflected on sports in time of worldwide lockdowns and said chess seems to have coped well so far.
A total of 17 Grandmasters and over 180 chess players participated came together to take part in an online blitz event to raise over Rs 2.39 lakh towards the PM CARES Fund for COVID-19 relief.
Some young chess players from across the country hosted an online tournament and raised Rs 1.05 lakh while noted coach R B Ramesh collected funds through his 'Chess Gurukul' with GM P Harikrishna contributing Rs 2 lakh and Karthikeyan Murali donating Rs 25,000.
Indian teen chess players are taking it to online tournaments.
A former national Under-12 chess champion, India cricketer Chahal has the distinction of having represented the country at the World Youth Chess Championships, and is listed on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) website.
The AICF also asked the state associations to avoid any state-level events till April 15.
FIDE had recently recognised a new set of office-bearers of AICF after they were declared elected unopposed by the returning officer for the election.
If proven guilty, they may have to face imprisonment for two years for defaming the current Secretary of the BCA, who is also a member of the Education Commission of FIDE.
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