44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in India
India will host the Chess Olympiad for the first time, from July 28 to August 10, in Chennai.
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is located on the south–eastern coast of India. With temples, beaches and centres of historical and cultural significance, including the UNESCO Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram, Chennai is one of the most-visited cities in India.
The 44th edition of the biggest chess event in the world will have over 2000 players from more than 200 countries, with most of the stars joining from across the globe.
The event was originally scheduled in Russia. Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) started looking for new hosts and invited new bidders.
Chauhan discussed the possibilities with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The AICF fulfilled the hosting criteria set by FIDE within less than a week. They were able to answer all the queries by FIDE satisfactorily and ensured the required $10 million guarantee. It made India’s bid stronger than others.
