All India Chess Federation took an important
decision to revoke a one year ban on Grand Master G.N. Gopal. The decision
was taken at the Central Council and Annul General Meeting in Chennai.
Grand Master G.N. Gopal finally got the justice!
Another major decision was taken to change the National Championship's
(National ‘A’) format. The new format comprises, a 13 round Swiss league
event.
In the last year, Indian Grandmaster G.N. Gopal’s decision to
skip the 46th National ‘A’ chess championship proved costly. The All
India Chess Federation (AICF) took disciplinary action against the
player.
Disciplinary action by AICF
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) decided not to recommend
Grandmaster G.N. Gopal who had skipped the last National ‘A’
championship despite being warned by
the federation to represent India in any official tournaments for a year
with immediate effect. That, in effect, put the Kochi-based player out of
any official Indian team for one year. He was, however, free to play in
tournaments for which he is personally invited.
The
decision was taken in Chennai at the AICF Central Council meeting, which
found his reasons for staying away from the last National ‘A’ championship
held in Mangalore last December,
and playing in a tournament overseas instead, not satisfactory.
CPAI helped Gopal
Chess Players Association Of India had launched a protest, stating, "We
would also like to bring to your notice that decisions pertaining to
players taken in AICF meetings are not communicated to the players. Hence
the players are not aware of all the rules and regulations".
"There are many instances of players skipping the National A but the AICF
did not take any action. The punishment against Gopal is very harsh," said
Verghese Koshy, a senior player and reputed coach. CPAI president GM Tejas
Bakre said it would request the AICF to reconsider its decision.
AICF agrees to change the National
Championship format
Another major decision was to change the National 'A' to a 13 round
Swiss league by accepting the proposal of a committee comprising Grand
Masters Dibyendu Barua and Abhijit Kunte, R.M. Dongre, Bharat Singh
Chauhan and D.V.Sundar. Two players from National Women’s ‘A’, National
Junior boys’ and girls’ champions, 30 from National ‘B’, top six from the
previous National ‘A’, all GMs and two nominees of AICF secretary will
take part in one-round-a-day National ‘A’.
Similarly, women’s National ‘A’ will be a 11-round Swiss league. AICF also
decided to motivate states which produce medal winners in age-group
National championships. by allotting extra slots to them in the events the
following year. Three extra seeding for states producing champions, two
for second place and one for third place in all age group National
championships. Naturally, the strong states will have a bigger presence in
the age-group championship.
About GM G.N. Gopal :
From G. N. Gopal to GM Gopal, it truly has
been a sensational journey for the 18-year-old. He made his three norms
within a space of six months — at the International Open in Kolkata, the
Lake Sevan in Armenia and the Asian Zonal in Dhaka. He became
Kerala's first Grand Master.
He won his first National title in 2001, the
Under-12 rapid. In 2004, he won the bronze at the Asian under-14
championship in Tehran. The same year, he won the National junior title
too.
Related :
--
AICF may take action against Grandmaster G.N. Gopal
--
National A Chess Championship 2008: Gopal stunned
Ganguly
