AICF Files Police Complaint After Chess Olympiad Trophy Goes Missing

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is in hot water after the Chess Olympiad trophy, which the Indian team won in the last edition of the tournament, mysteriously went missing from its office. The incident has left the sports body red-faced and scrambling to arrange for a replica of the prized possession.

The Gaprindashvili Trophy, awarded to the team with the best overall performance across open and women’s divisions, has been missing for over a month. This unfortunate turn of events comes at a crucial time as the Indian men’s team is on the brink of clinching the gold medal in the ongoing 45th edition of the Olympiad in Budapest.

AICF vice-president Anil Kumar Raizada confirmed that the trophy disappeared just as the International Chess Federation (FIDE) requested for it to be brought to Budapest. Despite extensive efforts to locate the trophy, it remains untraceable, prompting the federation to file a police complaint and launch an investigation.

In a bid to salvage the situation, a replacement trophy has been ordered for the current edition of the Olympiad. While it may not be as unique as the original, the AICF is making amends for the embarrassing blunder and apologizing for the inconvenience caused.

The ongoing Olympiad, which began on September 10 and is scheduled to conclude on September 23, has attracted 197 teams from 195 national federations. The Indian teams, comprising talented players like Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, and Harika Dronavalli, are putting up a strong performance despite the trophy mishap.

As the chess world eagerly awaits the outcome of the tournament, the missing trophy saga serves as a cautionary tale for sports organizations to exercise utmost responsibility in safeguarding their prized possessions.