Rebel Chess body announces biggest ever prize money tourney

The ‘Delhi All India Open Chess Tournament’ – a Rs 15 lakh event – will be held at the Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls from December 23 to 29. The winner of the event would take home a hefty Rs 3 lakh prize money, CAI president Naveen Kumar Wal said.

“More than 500 participants, including some Grand Masters, International Masters and other rated players from India and abroad are expected to take part in the tournament. The entry fee for participation is Rs 1,000 with free accommodation to all players,” Wal said.

CAI has also decided to hold seven tournaments – each with prize money of Rs five lakh – at Haryana, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh in the near future.

In December next year, the association will organise a championship with cash prize of Rs 25 lakh in Lucknow, CAI Treasurer SK Tewari said.

The body came into existence on October 11 after a meeting of former AICF members here and decided to organise National championships and coaching camps for young players.

“For the past four-five years, chess players, organisers and State Associations are being deprived of their rights and treated as bonded labourers. To save all those from such humiliation and with an objective of developing the game, it has been unanimously decided to form a separate national body in the name of CAI,” Wal said.

At the time of its formation, 18 state associations sent their consent to be a part of CAI and more are likely to join in near future, Wal said.

“We are ready to face any kind of challenge from AICF. There is a possibility that they might create hurdles for us, but we are ready for everything,” Wal added.