Chennai, June 10 (Agency) All India Chess Federation (AICF) will be conducting the International Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2022 at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium in New Delhi on June 19, celebrating the beginning of the historic Olympiad Torch Relay tradition.A one-day event, which consists of a prize pool of Rs 10 lakh, will be graced by the five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Tuesday introduced an Olympic-style Torch Relay at the Chess Olympiad starting from this year’s edition, scheduled in Mahabalipuram from July 28 to August 10.FIDE also named India, a land the sport originated from, as the starting flame point for the Torch Relay in every Olympiad.
“It’s time for celebration of this huge honour and it can’t be done in a better way than inviting players across all age groups and the chess community together at one platform. We look forward to a great response from players for this tournament,” said AICF Secretary and Olympiad Director Bharat Singh Chauhan. The winner of Rapid Chess Tournament will take home a cash award of Rs 1 lakh while the second and third-placed players will get Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively. The tournament will be open for everyone across the globe. It will be played in a nine round Swiss League format. The event will also have 20 cash prizes in five rating categories — Below1200, Below 1400, Below 1600, Below 1800 and Below 2000. Besides, there will be cash prizes for age group categories (U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13 and U-15) for boys and girls, and for a special category where it will be given to the Best Female Players of the Tournament, above the age of 15 years.