Armenia lead by half a point from six chasing teams after seven of the 11 rounds in the 180-nation, $10m Chennai Olympiad, an event which is already unique and in the record books. Its stunning ambiance, eager fans and opulent playing conditions reflect India’s ambition to make August 2022 a landmark moment towards its goal of surpassing the three established chess superpowers – USA, Russia and China.
The state of Tamil Nadu and its chief minister, MK Stalin, approved a $10m budget which dwarfs any other chess event in history. Familiar name? The politician was born in 1953 and, when Joseph Stalin died four days later, the baby’s father decided what to call his son.
