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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
From staging a wedding to hosting Delhi Chess Open, how venue was readied overnight
The Delhi Chess Association (DCA) was on tenterhooks as the venue for India's largest chess event – the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, featuring one of the largest gatherings in the sport (2,400 players) – was hosting a wedding that continued well past midnight on Friday, the eve of the first round. However, once the DCA was granted access to the playing hall – at 1:30 AM on Saturday – volunteers worked through the night to ensure an on-time start at 9:30 AM at Chhatarpur's Tivoli Gardens Resort in southwest Delhi. Everything fell into place, just like at an Indian wedding. With 32,000 chess pieces, 1,000 boards, as many clocks, stacks of scoresheets, thousands of pens, an army of volunteers and arbiters, the open event is by no means a small affair. 'You have to consider the financial aspect,' says Gopakumar Sudhakaran, the man behind the staging of the event. 'Securing a hall in one of Delhi's finest resorts isn't cheap. Even one extra day would've blown the budget. From the outside, it may seem like a lack of planning, but we knew we'd pull it off.' 'Once we got the hall, volunteers scrambled to set up backdrop panels, sponsor branding, and additional lighting — the existing set-up wasn't enough. Then came arranging tables, chairs, chess boards, pieces, and scoresheets — all coordinated by the DCA,' Sudhakaran tells The Indian Express. After the record-breaking 17th edition of Delhi Open, which featured 2,800 players, this year's event marks a resurgence in participation post-pandemic, following last year's turnout of less than 1,000 players. The players, divided into three categories based on ratings, are mostly accompanied by parents and other family members, creating a massive human footprint for the seven-day Delhi GM Open. Yet, when the first round began sharply at 9:30 AM, right on time, everything was in place. Inside the playing venue — two separate halls for Category A and B — the chaos was oddly synchronised. A long queue of players split the smaller hall — where top players like SL Narayanan, Abhijeet Gupta, Levan Pantsulaia, and Manuel Petrosyan were competing — into two equal halves, as they shuffled between the facilities, coffee stalls and water stations. The arbiters, unperturbed by the chatter, efficiently assisted players ranging in age from 7 to 80. But what does it take to host an open chess event in India? 'A lot of things,' says Sudhakaran. How hard could it be to manage a group of players in an indoor sport, compared to handling a large-scale outdoor sporting event? A familiar name on the chess circuit, Sudhakaran wears multiple hats at open and invitational events, not just across India, but globally. The first Indian appointed as Deputy Chief Arbiter at the 44th Chess Olympiad and a fair-play officer at multiple World Championships – including the 2023 title clash between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren – he brings vast experience to the table. 'Unlike invitational events, which are smaller, we can't announce open tournament dates a year in advance,' Sudhakaran explains. 'We must account for numerous factors. To accommodate so many players, we need a large, suitable venue. That's where it all begins, selecting a space based on expected entries.' 'We estimated around 2,000 to 2,200 players for this event, considering past trends and ongoing tournaments in India,' he says. Sudhakaran was entrusted with ensuring the smooth conduct of the Delhi GM Open — a responsibility spanning everything from releasing event details and inviting players to negotiate appearance fees, booking flights, arranging stays, accommodating special requests, and even managing last-minute withdrawals (including refund demands for no-shows). 'Organising a tournament of this scale requires months of detailed planning, coordination, and complete dedication. It involves more than just managing logistics,' says Bharat Singh Chauhan, DCA president and chairman of the organising committee. Unlike Open events in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and Kottayam – which face fewer logistical challenges due to limited entries – the Delhi Open stands apart in scale and significance. The tournament has served as a historic milestone for many players, most notably when current World Champion D Gukesh earned his final GM norm here in 2019, becoming one of the youngest Grandmasters in the game. International Arbiter and former interim AICF Secretary Vipnesh Bhardwaj explains the tournament's appeal: 'Everyone waits for the Delhi Open — it's the most anticipated event for players. Delhi's geographical location makes it easily accessible, with all transport options available. Add to that good organisation, which takes care of everything, and of course, the legacy of the event.' According to Sudhakaran, when a tournament of this scale begins on schedule, half the battle is already won. So what's next on his priority list? 'A good night's sleep – first and foremost,' he chuckles.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Excluding Tharoor's name from Congress list for delegations on Operation Sindoor is insult to him: K Sudhakaran
Former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran on Thursday questioned the party's decision to exclude the name of Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor , from the list of persons to lead the Centre's delegations on ' Operation Sindoor ' and said it was akin to "insulting" him. Sudhakaran said that Tharoor was a competent leader and a loyal member of the party and therefore, in his view, it was not right to sideline the Thiruvananthapuram MP. "All this was an unnecessary controversy is what I feel," he told a TV channel here. Tharoor recently accepted the Centre's invite to lead a multi-party delegation abroad to put across India's stand against Pakistan on terrorism, even though he was not there in the list of names given by the party for the purpose. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo He had defended his decision saying he saw no politics in the matter. The Congress had nominated former Union Minister Anand Sharma, the party's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar after the government asked for the names of four MPs for the delegations. Live Events However, the government entrusted Tharoor with the task of leading one of the delegations, allegedly ignoring the Congress list. Sudhakaran, also an MP, said that there were some rumours that Tharoor might leave the party, but they were not true. "I spoke to him. I believe he won't leave the party," the former chief of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said. Regarding his removal from the top position in the party's state unit, Sudhakaran said he has some "relief" now and that he was not hurt or unhappy over it. He said that he would always be loyal to the party and it would come first for him as the Congress has supported him a lot over the years and had given him many important responsibilities. He also said that he will not stay away from politics and will actively work to strengthen the party. Sudhakaran said that he would take part in the election-related work across the state and as part of that he will visit all the thousands of booth-level committees to encourage the workers to attract voters. "I have permission for that from the new KPCC chief," he said. Referring to the ongoing fourth anniversary celebrations of the LDF government in the state, Sudhakaran said, they are going on when major highways in Kerala were "either collapsing or getting washed away". "Kerala CM has not responded on the matter. We need to know how many crores of rupees we have lost as a result of it," he said. He also alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his government have not done anything for the state or its people and were sitting on the money meant for the development of Kerala.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ex-KPCC chief Sudhakaran slams Congress excluding Tharoor from ‘Operation Sindoor' list, calls it an ‘insult'
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran on Thursday questioned the party's decision to exclude the name of Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, from the list of persons to lead the Centre's delegations on 'Operation Sindoor' and said it was akin to "insulting" him. Sudhakaran said that Tharoor was a competent leader and a loyal member of the party and therefore, in his view, it was not right to sideline the Thiruvananthapuram MP. "All this was an unnecessary controversy is what I feel," he told a TV channel here. Tharoor recently accepted the Centre's invite to lead a multi-party delegation abroad to put across India's stand against Pakistan on terrorism, even though he was not there in the list of names given by the party for the purpose. He had defended his decision saying he saw no politics in the matter. The Congress had nominated former Union Minister Anand Sharma, the party's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar after the government asked for the names of four MPs for the delegations. However, the government entrusted Tharoor with the task of leading one of the delegations, allegedly ignoring the Congress list. Sudhakaran, also an MP, said that there were some rumours that Tharoor might leave the party, but they were not true. "I spoke to him. I believe he won't leave the party," the former chief of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Congress: New leaders, old troubles
After deliberating for more than six months, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on May 8 effected a leadership change in the party's Kerala unit by appointing Sunny Joseph as president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Mr. Joseph, a three-time legislator from Peravoor, has replaced K. Sudhakaran. Incidentally, the announcement came soon after Mr. Sudhakaran publicly asserted that he had no intention of relinquishing the post. However, the AICC was determined to revamp the KPCC given the pressure from senior State leaders. The matter was ultimately resolved through a carefully negotiated compromise: while Mr. Joseph, a trusted associate, was made KPCC president, Mr. Sudhakaran was appointed as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. The AICC appointed MP Adoor Prakash as convener of the Congress-led UDF and also promoted A.P. Anil Kumar, P.C. Vishnunath, and Shafi Parambil as working presidents of the KPCC. Also read | Sunny Joseph has his task cut out as new Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president With Mr. Joseph's appointment, the Congress high command is desperately seeking to resurrect the once-formidable Christian-Nair alliance that helped the party win Assembly elections. Support from the influential Nair community as well as from various Christian denominations, particularly the Syrian Catholics, has eroded over time for the Congress. A section of these communities has switched loyalty to the BJP. Congress strategists believe that Mr. Joseph's nomination will help the party capitalise on his Christian background. His appointment also carries historical significance: this is the first time in over two decades that a Christian leader is helming the party in Kerala. With the post being held by leaders belonging to the Ezhava/Thiyya community for more than a decade, the Catholic clergy has been demanding that a community member lead the KPCC. Soon after the reshuffle, Congress leaders displayed camaraderie. However, this unity was disrupted when Mr. Sudhakaran announced that he was miffed about being removed from the post of KPCC president. He alleged that a faction of leaders, driven by self-interest, had influenced the AICC. While he announced that he remained committed to adhering to the party's directives, Mr. Sudhakaran cautiously suggested that the Central leadership might still consider him for the role of Kerala's in-charge for the 2026 Assembly elections. Many Congress leaders believe that Mr. Sudhakaran has good reason to be disappointed as his performance was not properly evaluated. The two preceding KPCC presidents faced different circumstances: Mullappally Ramachandran was ousted following the Congress' poor performance in the 2021 Assembly polls, while V.M. Sudheeran made a hasty exit less than a year after the 2016 Assembly polls. Though Mr. Sudheeran officially cited health reasons for his decision, it was an open secret that internal conflicts led to his resignation. The Central leadership perhaps did not have confidence in Mr. Sudhakaran's ability to lead the party to victory in the crucial 2026 Assembly elections. The stakes are high since the CPI(M)-led LDF is aiming for a historic third consecutive term in office. Nearly all the Congress aspirants for the post of Chief Minister apparently wanted Mr. Sudhakaran to be removed. While some say that the Central leadership did not lay the groundwork for Mr. Joseph's elevation and simply parachuted him to the top, veteran leader A.K. Antony is confident that the new KPCC president will ensure that a UDF government and a Congress leader will be in power in 2026. The leadership matrix no doubt looks flawless on paper thanks to the fine balancing of caste interests — the Congress in Kerala now has a KPCC chief from the Christian community; a Leader of the Opposition from the Nair community, an UDF convener from the Ezhava community, and KPCC working presidents from the Scheduled Caste and Muslim communities. However, this alone will not fetch votes. To attract voters who had moved away from the party, it is crucial for the Congress leadership to take an unambiguous stand on issues such as the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the caste census. Bitter factionalism and multiple chief ministerial aspirants are hurdles for the party. The biggest challenge for the Congress lies in effectively mobilising anti-incumbency at the grassroots level.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
G. Sudhakaran criticises police for registering case against him over postal ballot-tampering remarks
Former Minister and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader G. Sudhakaran has criticised the police for registering a case against him, following his statement that postal ballots were tampered with in favour of the CPI(M) candidate in the Alappuzha constituency in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to mediapersons on Sunday, Mr. Sudhakaran said that his statement on rigging postal votes was a 'speech tactic'. 'I said negative things to create a positive effect. No postal ballot-tampering took place. Where is the evidence for tampering with postal votes? The District Police Chief and the District Collector should be asked why a case under non-bailable Sections was filed against me in such haste. By registering the case, the police have landed themselves in trouble,' Mr. Sudhakaran said. He said that retired High Court judge Kemal Pasha had opined that filing the case against him was wrong. 'I have already retracted my initial statement and clarified it. Even the CPI(M) candidate in the 1989 polls said that no such incident took place. What more evidence are the police going to collect now?,' Mr. Sudhakaran said. 'Let the police explain' The CPI(M) leader said that he was not going to seek anticipatory bail. 'I have not done anything wrong. I am waiting to see if the police come to arrest me. Let the police explain in court what wrong I have committed. I will also make my stance clear in court,' he said, adding that the Opposition would not gain any political advantage from the situation. In an apparent reference to Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian's remarks on the Constitution in 2022, Mr. Sudhakaran asked what legal action had been taken against the person who challenged the entire legal system of the country. Mr. Sudhakaran made the controversial remarks on May 14. Two days later, he retracted his statement, stating that no such incident of postal ballot tampering had occurred. However, the Alappuzha South police registered a case against him as per the direction of the Election Commission. He has been booked under Sections 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 135 (removal of ballot papers from polling station to be an offence), 135 A (offence of booth capturing), 136 (electoral offence) and 128 (maintenance of secrecy of voting) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
