The 44th Chess Olympiad 2022 is seeing a chess fever spreading through the city of Chennai. The event attracted a number of journalists who daily report from the tournament and the interest for the chess games is repeatedly seen upon the start of the first round. The crowd was surrounding chess players, trying to spot the moment of the ceremonial first move and playing the first move wasn’t an easy task.
Round 3 Team pairings / Round 3 board pairings (women’s section) / Round 3 board pairings (open section)
However, after the first round, FIDE changed the protocol for accredited media and journalists, changing the rules on who can enter the venue and how. In the press release sent to the media, FIDE explains the measures are taken to keep the best interest of the media, AICF, FIDE and Tamil Nadu Government. Local Chennai Media will have to pick up and drop off via a bus organised from the city to Mahabalipuram. Pick-up for local media residing at Mahabalipuram and the national media from a common pick-up point near the venue at Mahabalipuram and drop back at the same point. There is also a specific time of Media arrival and Media exit. The journalists were not happy with a new protocol. “In today’s bus, there were 70+ people. No place to sit” says Swaroop Swaminathan. Scroll down for more reactions
