AICF may take action against Grandmaster G.N. Gopal

Indian Grandmaster G.N. Gopal’s decision to skip the 46th National ‘A’ chess championship may prove costly. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is planning to take disciplinary against the player.We contacted Grandmaster G.N. Gopal on this issue, he said, "As of now I haven’t received any official communication from the All India Chess Federation (AICF).

Hence I will explain the whole issue immediately after receiving the same."The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has decided not to recommend Grandmaster G.N. Gopal - who had skipped the last National ‘A’ championship despite being warned by the federation - to represent India in any official tournaments for a year with immediate effect. That, in effect, puts the Kochi-based player out of any official Indian team for one year. He is, however, free to play in tournaments for which he is personally invited. Playing abroad

The decision was taken in Chennai at the AICF Central Council meeting, which found his reasons for staying away from the last National ‘A’ championship held in Mangalore last December, and playing in a tournament overseas instead, not satisfactory."The AICF had asked him to play in the National ‘A’ championship, which is the qualifying event for the Indian team for various international tournaments, but he chose to play in an event abroad," the AICF Secretary, D.V. Sundar told The Hindu newspaper.

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