The Hindu : Manufacture of chess champions!

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Manufacture of chess champions!

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, FEB. 2. Welcome to the "Hall of Maya" in the world of chess run by the All India Chess Federation (AICF)! The recently-concluded Commonwealth Championship only confirmed the doubts being expressed now almost openly on the authenticity of so many age-group champions.

Trust them to find an easy way out to be crowned with glory, the chess `wizards' are not far off. Consider this. In the first instance, the Commonwealth Championship doesn't have any age group competition separately. It is a different issue that it is even converted into an International Open-cum-Commonwealth Championship to give it a truly international colour.

Yet, but for the odd entry from England, Bangladesh, Malaysia and sometimes Australia, most of the editions held in India in the last decade were virtually reduced to Indian Opens. Then, how come so many age group champions from India? The logic is simple. The AICF chief enjoys the privilege to grant special entries to `future champions' and who are unrated, on payment of Rs.25,000. There is a gradation too starting with players rated above ELO 2100 needing to pay Rs.14,000. The only consolation is that the Grandmasters are paid an appearance money of $350 to $500.

By all means, the primary reason for India hosting these Commonwealth Championships is the enthusiasm of the AICF in encouraging budding talent. But, the ground reality is different. With no other State Government providing any incentive to the winner in any age group or the overall championship, the focus invariably shifts to Andhra Pradesh, says a former International Master from Bangalore who was here recently on a private visit. And quick to grab the `golden opportunity', the cash-rich parents send their kids to the Commonwealth Championship.

"Why should we waste the opportunity," questions the father of a young talent. Invest Rs.25,000 and collect a minimum of Rs.80,000. How? The procedure is simple. Most of the times only three entries each in the under-10, under-12 and under-nine years categories are being received by the organisers, discloses an official in the Chess Association of Hyderabad on condition of anonymity.

Consequently, all of them are assured of a gold, silver and bronze medal and at the end of the event will be declared officially as Commonwealth under-10 champion and so on.

This is not to state that all of them who pick these titles are not worthy of any mention but the irony is that even some of the better performances are under serious question because of this `avoidable episode'.

The problem is that most of the special entries are from Andhra Pradesh, for this is the only State which offers cash incentives for medallists, points out another player who is at the rough end of the AICF treatment.

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