Russia may opt out of Chess Olympiad in Chennai

Chennai: Uncertainty shrouds the participation of the strong Russian chess team in the upcoming 44th Chess Olympiad to be held in Chennai in July-August 2022, officials said. India as the host country can field two teams, and if the number of entries are in odd numbers, the host nation can field one more team.

The suspense over Russia's participation is owing to the country's ongoing military operation against Ukraine and the West's economic sanctions and other actions against Russia. A senior FIDE official told IANS preferring anonymity: "The Russian team probably may not come."

Queried about the same, Bharat Singh Chauhan, the Tournament Director for the Olympiad who's also the Secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), said everything depends on the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

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