The pricing of tickets for the world chess championship here from Nov. 7 to 28, among others, was released to the media during the logo unveiling function at Hotel Hyatt Regency on Monday.
Justifying the prices, D.V. Sundar, vice-president, FIDE, said he was confident that only the connoisseurs of chess would come to the venue (Ball Room of Hyatt Regency) and appreciate the nuances of the matches between world champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Magnus Carlsen.
The build-up to the championship will begin with the Chennai Chess blitz on September 25 at the Nehru Indoor Stadium. The event is supported by Murugappa Group and Prof. Anantharaman, chairman of AICF Arbiters Commission, will be the chief arbiter for the event, which has attracted entries from six GMs, three WGMs and 118 rated players.
The winner will take home Rs. 90,000, while the runner-up and third-place finisher will receive Rs. 63,000 and Rs. 45,000 respectively.
Bharat Singh, CEO, All India Chess Federation (AICF), while giving details of the official website (www.chennai2013.fide.com), informed that the sale of tickets online began on Monday at 5 p.m.
He further said that a Facebook page and a twitter account have been opened for chess lovers. A special application for android phones has also been developed. “It will be active by mid-October,” he added. Arrangements are being made to sell tickets to the general public and chess lovers, a press release said.
Doordarshan will be the official broadcaster.
J.C.D. Prabhakar (president, AICF), V. Hariharan (secretary, AICF) and B. Murugavel (vice-president, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association) were also present.
Ticket pricing :
VIP Box with a seating capacity for eight (on all days): Rs. 3.25 lakh; Daily tickets premium: Rs. 2,500; Season ticket premium: Rs. 26,000; Daily tickets Standard: Rs. 2,000; Season ticket Standard: Rs. 21,000; Gates are free for the inaugural function on November 7 at the Nehru Indoor Stadium; Entry free for registered players and bonafide students of schools and colleges.
Build-up events :
Chennai Chess blitz, Sept. 25, Nehru Indoor Stadium; Woman Grandmaster tournament, Nov. 6 to 14, Hall of Chess, Nehru Stadium (8 lakh prize money); Open Grandmaster tournament, Nov. 15 to 23, Hall of Chess, Nehru Stadium (10 lakh); National under-9 boys and girls championship, Nov. 6 to 14, Hall of Chess, Nehru Stadium (Rs. 1.5 lakh); All-India rating tournament for those below ELO 2100 rating, Nov. 19 to 22, Hall of Chess, Nehru Stadium (Rs. 3 lakh).
Chess solving contest on all match days, Hyatt Regency; District-level Open tournament to be held at all districts where 10 players each will be identified for the finals, Sep. 27, 28, 29; State finals, Nov. 16 to 18, Hall of Chess, Nehru Stadium; FIDE Arbiter Seminar, Nov. 10 to 13, Hyatt Regency / Hall of Chess; FIDE trainer seminar, Nov. 15 to 17, Hyatt Regency / Hall of Chess.
