LIC move checkmates

The reason? A public sector chess tournament to be hosted at Ahmedabad by LIC from March 21-25 in which the officials want Deshmukh to play. However, this move has come in for flak from chess buffs. “The tournament is of no consequence compared to the international exposure Deshmukh would be getting in Beirut,” a top chess player said, requesting anonymity.

And moreover, LIC is up against no real competition worth the name as top teams like Petroleum Sports Control Board and Bank Sports Board are likely to skip this tournament — which is being revived after five years — because of their players’ busy schedule.

LIC has seven more players in IM Shriram Jha, Vishal Sareen, former Commonwealth champion Atanu Lahiri, Brajesh Agrawal, IWMs Swati Ghate and Pallavi Shah who can ably shoulder the burden in Deshmukh’s absence, feel chess enthusiasts. Meanwhile, repeated efforts to contact the Chairman of LIC’s Sports Promotion Board GN Vajpayee and secretary HN Verma at Mumbai bore no fruits but administrative officer (sports) SB Mishra admitted a decision has already been made in this regard and the International Master has been asked to forget the Beirut tourney. Said Mishra, “The Corporation pays him and it is upto LIC to deny permission to him.” When reminded seven other players of the same rank were at LIC’s disposal, Mishra said the corporation culled only the top five players from its all-India meet, of whom Deshmukh happened to be one, and such rankings were immaterial. As regards the golden opportunity the local chess wiz would be forgoing in terms of international exposure, Mishra said, “If he is leading the country, then the All India Chess Federation should request us to relieve him. There is a possibility that our directors migth reconsider their decision.” When contacted, NCA president VK Trivedi said there would be a “big problem if Deshmukh is denied permission”. He argued Deshmukh was the main player and captain and no other player could replace him at such short notice. Neither could the AICF be requested to send another team.“In his absence, we have no choice but to skip this crucial tournament,” Trivedi said. Attempts to contact Deshmukh proved futile as he was away in Chennai doing his duty for the Corporation in the Inter-Institutional Chess Tournament beginning March 10.

But all is not lost yet. Much depends on how quickly the AICF puts in a request to the LIC officials so that budding chess stars are not deprived of their share of international exposure.