New Delhi (dpa) – Probably the craziest chess city in the world, the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai is hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad.

The event was originally scheduled to take place in Russia, but the governing body of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) decided against it due to the Russian war of aggression. Now, the Olympics will be held in and around Chennai until August 10, for the first time ever in India.

Enthusiasm has not only been felt everywhere since the Olympics: chess academies and associations, manufacturers and sellers of chess products can be found in many places in the city. Recently, a well-known white and black bridge was transformed into a kind of large chessboard. Some children start playing chess at age six or younger. Many neighborhoods have chess clubs they attend after school or on weekends.

Most Indian chess grandmasters also come from the state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital. Grandmaster is the highest title awarded by the governing body FIDE. Among the grandmasters is 16-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who once beat world chess champion Magnus Carlsen. According to the organizers, Carlsen should also be present at the 44th Chess Olympiad. In total, more than 300 teams from 185 countries would participate – but not from Russia, Belarus and China.

There was also a new ceremony with a torch relay across India, which umbrella organization FIDE said should not only remain, but be expanded. As before the Olympic Games, the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay will now cross all continents.

Incidentally, there are indications that the chess may have originally come from India. Ancient Indian scriptures describe the game of Chaturanga, which has similarities to modern chess. Four players battle with infantry, cavalry, elephants and charioteers.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:220729-99-196697/4