Thambi is here to paint the State ‘black and white’

The mascot of the soon-to-be-held 44th Chess Olympiad is well on his way to becoming a household name even as preparations for the marquee event barrel on

The Thambi is slowly becoming ubiquitous. When the 44 th Chess Olympiad — the first-ever in Chennai — begins at Four Points by the Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre on July 28 (actual games begin on July 29), the mascot of the biennial chess event will become a household name. Already, Thambi the knight has started to paint Tamil Nadu ’black and white’ and has sprung up at important tourist locations in the State and along the medians of arterial roads in Chennai.

The All-India Chess Federation (AICF), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, is putting in the hard yards to prepare for the marquee event. The organisers are racing against time but are confident of completing their assigned duties.

R. Anantharam, venue-in-charge (AICF) and Member of the Appeals Committee, said the work for the Olympiad generally starts two years in advance. “For the next cycle (Olympiad 2024), the bidding is already over, and the venue is decided — Budapest (Hungary). Whereas we had just five months to set everything up,” he said. In February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Chess Federation (FIDE), decided to move the event from Moscow, and Chennai was quick to seize the opportunity.

The 73-year-old from Sivakasi said the Olympiad would be conducted in two halls. “The work is almost over in both halls. Soon, we should be able to complete everything: the lighting, the carpet, and the tables,” he said.

A veteran of six Olympiads as an Arbiter, Mr. Anantharam said the event was a dream come true for any chess lover and hoped it would be the “best-ever.”

For a sport to thrive, its grassroots should be strong and, according to M.S. Gopakumar, Deputy Chief Arbiter of the Olympiad and Member of the Organising Committee, the best part of the Championships was the response from the grassroots level.

“It has been amazing, to say the least,” he said, highlighting that three u-15 boys and girls from each State (apart from Tamil Nadu) and one u-15 boy and girl selected from every district of Tamil Nadu will watch the tournament live from the venue. “This will inspire the kids and take the sport to the next level. And I believe that we will set a benchmark for others to follow,” he said.