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The44th edition oftheChess Olympiad will be held inMahabalipuram, near Chennai, from July 28 toAugust 10. Today Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off thefirst-ever torch relay fortheChess Olympiad!

With animpressive ceremony attheIG Stadium inNew Delhi, India welcomed chess players andthechess fraternity from around theworld tocelebrate thevery first torch relay inaChess Olympiad. According tonews9live, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed over thetorch tothePrime Minister who gave it tothelegendary Viswanathan Anand.

Thetorch will be taken to75 cities inaspan of40 days before arriving inMahabalipuram, andatevery location, chess grandmasters ofthestate will receive thetorch. Theceremony started with thetraditional dances ofIndia depicting the64 squares, andduring theshow, thehosts showcased thehistory ofchess, its origin, andits evolution.

The44th edition oftheChess Olympiad was initially scheduled totake place inRussia. However, with thewar-like situation between Russia andUkraine, FIDE began searching fornew hosts andinvited new bidders. Thestrong efforts from thefederation andAll India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan brought theimpossible toreality asFIDE granted India therights tohost theOlympiad which has been taking place forthelast 95 years. So, innearly 100 years ofthehistory oftheChess Olympiad, its thefirst time that India will be hosting theprestigious event.

We are proud that thesport rose from its birthplace andhas made its presence felt all over theworld. We are delighted tosee chess return toits birthplace andcelebrate its success intheform oftheChess Olympiad. PM Modi said, adding: InIndia wrestling, kabaddi, malkhamb were played toremain fit andforanalytical skills, our forefathers invented chess. Chess traveled tothewhole world andbecame popular. Today chess has become aneducational tool, chess players are becoming problem solvers!

With 188 countries registered fortheOlympiad, India is set towitness ahuge congregation ofnations forasporting event forthefirst time on Indian soil.

Find more about the44th edition oftheChess Olympiad attheofficial website.

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The first-ever torch relay for the Chess Olympiad - World Chess