Despite changes in office bearers, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) continues to grapple with issues affecting chess players and tournament organizers at the grassroots level, according to concerned players.
The AICF’s upcoming office bearer elections, scheduled for next year, may bring in new faces, but players argue that the plight of chess enthusiasts and organizers remains unchanged. The elections, expected to be held by March 1, 2024, present an opportunity for potential reforms.
Despite a 2018 ruling by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against AICF, prohibiting the banning of chess players from participating in private tournaments, the practice persists, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Chess tournament organizers face challenges as vested interests reach out to payment gateways, urging them to cease accepting entry fees for events labeled as unauthorized.
J. Jeevan Kumar, Secretary of Evans Chess Club, shared an incident where a tournament’s entry fees were abruptly halted by a payment gateway, citing unauthorized status due to external pressure.
In Tamil Nadu, players continue to face bans for participating in tournaments unrecognized by AICF, with the state and national bodies turning a blind eye. In April this year, three players were barred from participating in the Tirunelveli District Selection tournament at the last minute, illustrating the ongoing issue.
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Despite CCI’s clear stance that AICF cannot restrict players and organizers from participating in unauthorized chess tournaments, players face hurdles. A case filed against AICF resulted in a penalty of Rs 6.92 lakh, yet AICF’s repeated appeals and adjournments indicate a lack of closure.
Gurpreet Pal Singh, a chess player involved in the case against AICF, questions the continued payment of substantial legal fees by the chess body without resolving the issue. AICF’s spending on legal expenses reached over half a crore rupees in FY22, raising concerns about transparency.
Curiously, when asked for a breakdown of legal expenses under the Right to Information Act, AICF claimed records had been damaged by pests. The recent order of the Central Information Commission
(CIC) sheds light on the organization’s financial decisions, indicating an expenditure increase from Rs 18,20,300 in FY21 to Rs 50,52,450 in FY22.
Despite the penalty and legal expenses, it remains unclear whether AICF paid the Rs 6.92 lakh penalty to CCI after NCLAT dismissed its appeal in July this year. Chess players and organizers await resolution, hoping for a positive shift in the AICF’s approach to foster a healthier chess environment.
-IANS
