World chess logo, website launched

The Tamil Nadu Chess Association (TNCA) will here Wednesday kick start the build-up for the FIDE World championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in November with a prize money blitz tournament supported by the Murugappa Group.

At a press conference here Monday, the organisers unveiled the logo for the Nov 7-28 World Championship match besides launching the official website of the tie -- www.chennai2013.fide.com -- and announced the prices of tickets that will go on sale shortly.

The tickets are priced at Rs.3.25 lakh (VIP Box with seating for 8, all days), Rs.2,500 (daily, Premium), Rs.26,000 (season, Premium), Rs.2,000 (daily, Standard) and Rs.21,000 (season, Standard).

Entry will be free for registered players and bonafide school and college students, said organising secretary V. Hariharan.

The blitz tournament, offering a prize money of Rs.4 lakh, will be played on the nine-round Swiss format basis with each game lasting a maximum of five minutes. In all, 180 players are expected to take part.

Besides the blitz tournament that will serve as a curtain-raiser to a the World Championship, the TNCA has planned seven other competitions including a Women's Grand Master tournament (Nov 6-14) and Open Grand Master tournament (Nov 15-23).

Also on the anvil are FIDE Arbiter Seminar (Nov 10-13 and Nov 15-17), All-India rating tournament (Nov 19-22) and National Under-9 Championship for boys and girls.

"These tournaments during the World Championship will be held mostly in the morning session, thus giving opportunity for the players to watch the World Championship match in the evening," said Hariharan.