The match, officially announced in July after both Anand and Kasparov signed up with the promoters, has not been able to attract a sponsor who could put up three million dollars.

Sources say that potential sponsors have shown interest provided the match leads to a cycle which then becomes a regular Championships. The past experiences of short-lived Grand Masters Association which organised a few World Cup events and the Professional Chess Association (PCA) that had one cycle and a world championships match -- which Anand played against Kasparov -- is what the sponsors don't want.

As a result, the main promoters including Serge Grimaux andBessel Kok are now in the process of working out a workable cycle on a regular basis which will serve as a alternative to the FIDE World Championships. Among those staying away were Kasparov, Anand, Anatoly Karpov, Zsuzsa Polgar and Alexander Morozevich.

Meanwhile, a report from Chennai said that the Anand-Kasparov match for the present is off at least for this year. Lack of sponsorship is cited as one of the reason.

BOUNCING CHEQUES: Meanwhile, the chess fraternity has expressed concern as a few cheques given at the recently World Championships in Las Vegas have bounced. The cheques drawn on a reputed bank were turned back when presented.

Though it is not clear when some players' cheques have bounced, the news came around when one of the arbiters, Carol Jarecki's cheque was returned.

Some players too are reported to have suffered similar experiences.

The prize fund was to have been disbursed by a newly set-up World Chess Foundation, the origins of which are not entirely clear, though it doeshave some connection with Kirsan Illyumzhinov, President of FIDE.

The FIDE Executive Committee is meeting in Qatar at the end of the month.