Beyond 64 Squares: Raja faction's India team similar to Chauhan faction's list

The two warring factions in the Indian chess federation called a temporary truce on Saturday after president PR Venketerama Raja pruned the list of the Indian teams for Online Olympiad, which was on similar lines with what secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan submitted a day earlier. The squad released by the Raja faction includes former world champion Viswanathan Anand, Vidit Gujrathi, P Harikrishna (reserve) in the men's team. In the women's category, the selected players are Koneru Humpy, D Harika, Bhakti Kulkarni (reserve). Nihal Sarin and R Praggnanandhaa (reserve) have been selected for the boys U-20 while R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh (reserve) are in girls' under-20 team.

Raja faction's India team similar to Chauhan faction

The AICF is split into two factions -- one led by president Raja and the other by secretary Chauhan, who have been at loggerheads over various issues. According to AICF Secretary Vijay Deshpande, who belongs to the Raja group, the team has been approved by the chairman of the selection committee - GM R B Ramesh and the president (Raja). "Yes...It (team) is approved by the chairman of selection committee Grandmaster R B Ramesh and president of AICF P R Venketrama Raja," he told PTI.

Earlier on Friday, the Chauhan faction had come up with a similar squad.  He had said the players had been picked as per the AICF central council's selection criteria. The Raja faction had, however, included some young players in the team, who have now been excluded. They are Aradhya Garg, Mitrabha Guha, Srishti Pandey, and Arpita Mukherjee, who were included as under-20 players.

Ramesh said he had recommended a team as part of the selection committee going by the ratings of January to March since no tournaments have happened after that. "Yes, the team I have recommended as part of the selection committee is going by the ratings of January to March 2020 since no tournaments have happened after that," he added. "The Selection Committee has sent its recommendation and now the AICF will take final decision," he said.

Meanwhile, a veteran player said the decision to drop the young players affect their morale after being contacted earlier about being part of the team.

"The young players who were earlier contacted and then have been left out will be affected and their morale will be down after either of the factions got in touch with them regarding selection for the Olympiad," he said. 

Image credits: PTI