Chess Olympiad teams will be topless
Vijay Tagore
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 03:26 IST
AICF ‘understands’ Viswanathan Anand’s position but unhappy with Koneru Humpy’s decision to skip the event in Germany in November
MUMBAI: The Indian team for the Chess Olympiad will be topless. Virtually. Both Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy, the best man and woman players in India — and the world too — will not be taking part in the biannual tournament. The Olympiad is scheduled to be held in Dresden, Germany, from November 12 to 25.
Anand, the world champion and world No 1 at Elo 2798, and Humpy, the world No 1 woman player (after Judith Polgar who doesn’t play in the women’s category) at Elo 2622, have conveyed their unavailability to the All India Chess Federation although the AICF is hoping against hope that one of them will make it to the tournament.
Prior to the Olympiad, Anand will have just finished his high-voltage World Championship match against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn and is expected to miss the Olympiad, irrespective of the result of the contest. The Kramnik match is from October 14 to November 2 and the Indian maestro would be too tired to play another tournament which starts 10 days later.
The AICF confirmed to DNA that Anand has already informed the federation that he would not be playing in the tournament but the federation has given him an option to make a decision after the Bonn match. “We’ve given him the option but we really don’t expect him to turn up. He would be tired by then and he will lose more than gain,” AICF spokesman Arvind Aron said. In the absence of Anand, the team could consist of K Sasikiran (2668), P Harikrishna (2622), GN Gopal (2572), SS Ganguly (2631) and Sandipan Chanda (2588).
Meanwhile, the AICF is peeved with Humpy’s decision to skip the tournament. “It is disappointing she has chosen not to play the Olympiad. We had a certain medal chance in the women’s section. Her presence would have galvanized the tournament,” said Aron.
Added a senior official: “The AICF has always helped her. We can understand Anand’s position.” He also expressed disappointment that her father-cum-coach Koneru Ashok, who was bestowed with the Dronacharya Award last year, did not prevail upon her to play for the country rather than a club tournament in Europe.
Source: DNA India
That’s hillarious.
I hear that Indian chess players are smelly?! What odor is that used by them? Some trick like Chinese chess players use to stink their opponents to death?
Humpy is a traitor? Will take European citizenship soon, rumors say.
I think it was a bit harsh to make fun of such a post…okay, not the best of english, but we’ve seen much worse…
“okay, not the best of english, but we’ve seen much worse…”
It totally agree! Have you heard President Bush speak?
The guy has the IQ of a piss-ant!
Good call, ioannis.
I hear Russian players are much smellier. Regular bathing not part of their culture.
If it works no one will bath for a month before the World Open. Imagine that. No one will smell the other one because they will only smell themselves. Goichberg will hide in his little room.
Topless chess – sounds cool!
It’s sad chess became so professional, that some players don’t even play for their country anymore…