45th National -A Chess postponned indefinately

Chennai, Sep 4 (UNI) The 45th National-A Chess Championship scheduled to commence was postponed indefinitely as the players expressed dissatisfaction over accommodation and protested strongly.

A majority of the players were not satisfied with the accommodation provided at a sports hostel at the venue of the event the private St Joseph's Engineering College. They raised the objections at the players meeting before the commencement of the tournament.

On behalf the players, both GM Abhijit Kunte (IOC, Maharashtra) and IM P Konguvel (ONGC, Tamil Nadu) demanded better accommodation .

The emergency meeting prolonged for six hours did not solve the dispute.

General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association Manuel Aaron offered Rs 5000 each to the 44 participants and pickup facilities to enable them to stay outside the venue.

As players felt that the offer was not adequate to meet their requirements , the organisers had no other option but to put off the tournament.

The tournament with an increased prize fund of Rs 4,00,000 was earlier inaugurated by Mr M Raman, Special Commissioner and Secretary , Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department UNI