Post Anand's triumph, benefits for Indian chess players

In the wake of Viswanathan Anand's fifth world title, the All India Chess Federation has decided to promote the game by increasing the prize money of many tournaments besides introducing new events.

The AICF will spend Rs 50 lakh more on prize money starting this year. The cash awards to medal winners in Asian and World Championships have been doubled with immediate effect and the National Premier Championships will have a bigger prize purse from next year.

The AICF will contribute Rs six lakh while the organizing association will have to ensure the remaining Rs 4 lakh to make it a million rupees championship. In the women's tournament, the AICF will contribute Rs 3.5 lakh to the existing 2.5 lakh to make it a Rs six lakh prize money event.

The format of National Premier Championships will also be changed from next year. It will be an elite event with only 14 players participating instead of the present 45.

There will be no direct entry except for the defending champion and top four rated players of the country. The remaining nine will qualify from the national challengers.

These decisions were taken at the annual general body meeting in Chennai in which the Federation President J C D Prabhakaran made some key announcement for the betterment of the game in the country.

In addition to this, the AICF announced a total of Rs 20 lakhs for two high category events for men and women. For the men's tournament, the total prize fund of Rs 12 lakh will be given by AICF while for the women's, it will give Rs 8 lakh.

Chauhan also announced Rs 100000 cash incentive to the organisers of National Under-7, 9, 11, 13 and 17 to help organise the events better.

"Our only aim is to be the number one chess playing nation in the world, for that luckily we now have funds that we are trying to channelise in the best possible manner for the benefits of the players," said Modi.

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