20.02.2005
Chess Players'
Association of India [CPAI] Press Release
We thank All India Chess Federation (AICF), for having decided in its
Special General Body meeting held at Chennai on 19.02.2005, to refund the amount
collected through a 10% deduction from the players' prize money during June to
December 2004 and also to henceforth charge the Indian players only the fees as
prescribed by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) for participation in
International events as opposed to double the amount charged previously.
We are happy to note that AICF, under the leadership and initiative of
the President - Mr.N.Srinivasan, has taken seriously the players' requests on
various issues and is endeavouring to provide constructive solutions for the
same. We sincerely hope that AICF would soon sort out the issue of wrongful
omission of WGM Nisha Mohota from the Indian team for Asian Women Championship
held at Beirut during December 2004 and look for ways to curtail the exorbitant
expenses in running the Federation, which was highlighted in our report
submitted to the President earlier this month. These issues, raised by CPAI and
disregarded unilaterally by the previous Secretary – Mr.P.T.Ummer Koya, had
created an embarrassing 'stale-mate' over the past few months.
Also, we are surprised at the postponement of Commonwealth Championship
at Bikaner, International Open Tournament at Raipur and the Asian Individual
Championship at Kochi, that were scheduled over the next few weeks, without any
alternate dates being provided by the organizers of these events. We feel that
by this sudden postponement, the organizers of the above events have put
self-interests above the development of Chess in the country.
- Chess Players' Association of India