The 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Tamil Nadu

Chess, profoundly known as "Chaturanga," which originated in India, is a strategic board game which involves two intellectual players anticipating tactical moves to capture the opponent’s king. The world on the chessboard resembles warfare between two skilled players who display utmost determination, keen attention, and grit against their opposing armies. The game exhibits the development and enhancement of cognition towards problem-solving, creative thinking, strategic planning and analytical thinking. This thrilling sport is appreciated all around the world with a myriad of tournaments and championships played throughout the year.Tamil Nadu, with its vibrant chess culture, is perceived as the "Mecca of Indian     Chess".It is the homeland of legendary chess champion Mr Viswanathan Anand and the Indian Chess grandmaster, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. In 2013, Chennai hosted the World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand. The event was a huge success and also resulted in India producing a huge list of new talents to the world. The Chess Olympiad is a prominent global tournament held every two years. It attracts about 2000 skillful players from over 100 nations and rewards the finest national team with potential for reputation and glory. For the first time in India, the 44th Chess Olympiad will be held in Mamallapuram, the shoreline town of Tamil Nadu. The 14 days tournament involved over 150 nations and 300 teams competing in both the open category and the women's category. Each team consisted of four players plus one reserve, with a captain assigned. The teams were paired according to the "FIDE Olympiad Pairing Rules" and tackle eleven rounds of competition following the Swiss system.The venue of the 44th Chess Olympiad, Mamallapuram, is home to spectacular beaches, high-end resorts, and world-class water sports facilities, making it an ideal pick for the event. The town is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the "Group of Monuments,'' along with other prominent ancient temples and monuments, including Arjuna’s Penance, the Five Rathas or Pandava Rathas, and the Shore Temple. The shoreline town is all set to welcome visitors with its enhanced charm and glitz. By successfully bagging the hosting rights of the Chess Olympiad, Tamil Nadu has once again brought the spotlight on India and Chennai, as far as the world of chess is concerned.India's chess capital, Mamallapuram, hosted the “44th FIDE Chess Olympiad” from July 28th, 2022 to August 9th, 2022. The Tamil Nadu government has demonstrated its dedication to the event with meticulous preparations featuring official logos, mascots and other distinct promotions. As part of the event promotion, the Napier Bridge in Chennai was painted in 'Chess Theme,' along with a 'horse' mascot named "Thambi" clad in white veshti and shirt, welcoming visitors all around the state, showcasing utmost hospitality.The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department took measures to bring the state into the spotlight concerning the industry of tourism, with initiatives such as tourist-friendly autos, hop-on-hop-off buses, cultural shows, and customized tour packages for visitors.