Entry of Russians makes Asian chess a tougher contest

Time of India

07-05-2025

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
A bout 35 Indians will try to seal a FIDE knockout World Cup berth when they play the Asian Individual chess championship at Al Ain, UAE, from Wednesday. This will be the first continental meet where Russian players will take part in the official meet of their new affiliated continental federation — Asian Chess Federation .The last continental cy- cle had given eight World Cup berths to Asia (four each from two events).Now, due to the Russian presen- ce, those have been increa- sed to 10.The top-two from the Asian women's event, which will be played con- currently, will get women's World Cup spots. Russia had made the switch from European Chess Union to Asia in early 2023 and their players did not participate in the European individual championship this year from which top-20 players made it to the World Cup.'It is unfair on Asian players as the Asian continental berths available to the non-Russians will be reduced due to the presence of Russians,' seven-time National champion Praveen Thipsay told TOI.'FIDE tries to protect the interest of Russian players.If Russians were to play in the European Championship, they would be denied visa, because chess federations in western Europe have no social influence in their countries.'All India Chess Federa- tion secretary Dev Patel told this paper: 'Presence of Rus- sia in Asia doesn't make much of a difference. Indian players will have tougher competition and that can be good.'Top 10 Russian players are not playing in the Asian continental as they could qualify for the 206-player expanded and watered-down World Cup through other paths. The women's World Cup is a 103-player event.Olympiad winner Vantika Agrawal, PV Nandhidhaa and Padmini Rout are the top Indian women entries in the Asian with 12 men among the top-25 seeds being Indians. Nihal Sarin, Murali Karthikeyan, Leon Mendonca, Abhimanyu Puranik, Pranav and Pranesh are some of the notable Indians participating.The top-rated Russian at the Asian men's meet is 16th seed David Paravyan (Elo 2596). Still, the strength of Russians cannot be denied as 10 GMs (above Elo 2500) are participating in the nine-round swiss league meet. That strength from one country is as good as the top-10 of the world's elite women chess players.