Natl A switches to new format of Swiss System, 36 in fray

Chennai, Dec 5 (UNI) Eight Grand masters will be among the 36 players in the fray for the 33rd National Women's Chess championship to be held here from December 7, with a total prize money of Rs 1,35,000.

Addressing a press conference here All Indian Chess Federation (AICF) Secretary D V Sundar and Chairman, Organising Committee J C D Prabhakaran said the championship would be played in a new format from this year of 11 round Swiss league system vis-a-vis the 20 players playing against each other hitherto.

While the top 20 players had qualified from National B, all the Grand Masters have been seeded directly. However, Andhra Pradesh's Koneru Humpy doing duty for the country in the ongoing Doha Asian Games, will not be seen in action here. Mary Ann Gomes and P Sivasankari will also be absent.

The field also has the top four players from the last edition of this championship, other than the women GMs, two top players from junior girls and one AICF Secretary entry.

India's chess ace Viswanathan Anand will inaugurate the championship.

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