The Torch Run for the 44th Chess Olympiad scheduled at Mahabalipuram, Chennai touched down at Siliguri, West Bengal. Dr. Sankar Ghosh, member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly received the torch at the renowned Salugara Monastery and handed it over to Grand Master Mitrabha Guha. He gave a simultaneous display against upcoming players during the occasion and a cultural program was also arranged. The next destination is Gangtok, Sikkim where another grand function is scheduled. India is hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad from 28th July to 10th August where 187 countries are participating.
Yesterday evening, the Chess Olympiad Torch Flame reached Kolkata, West Bengal at the Sports Authority of India, Kolkata. Grand Master Saptarshi Rowchaudhary handed the torch over to Honourable Governor of West Bengal, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar, where Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha received and carried the torch forward.
Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, the first GM from India was the first proud torch bearer, accepting it from the PM Narendra Modi on 19th June at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi and then passed it on to GM Dibyendu Barua at the Red Fort on 20th June. Since then the Torch Relay has traversed all of North India, some parts of Central India and is heading eastwards. The Olympiad flame will visit 75 cities before culminating at Mahabalipuram, Chennai just before the start of the Chess Olympiad.