Boy ejected from TN chess tournament due to All India Chess Federation rule

Karthick Rahul was removed in the middle of a chess game in Tirunelveli district after he violated a ‘restrictive’ rule on playing in independent tournaments.

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The father of Karthick Rahul, a 11-year old school boy who was emotionally abused at a chess tournament recognised by All India Chess Federation (AICF) and its affiliated units, has approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for justice.

The CCI last year had ordered AICF to remove its restrictive condition prohibiting chess players from playing in independent tournaments organised by independent organisers.

On October 19, Rahul was evicted from The Hindu Tamil Nadu State Level Chess Tournament Tirunelveli Under-13 midway by the secretary of Tirunelveli District Chess Development Association (TDCDA) in Tamil Nadu for playing in tournament that was not affiliated to the district or state associations and AICF.

The one-day state level chess tournament for under-10/13/15 boys and girls was organised at Sadakathullah Appa College in Pallayamkottai in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu under the aegis of the TDCDA.

In his complaint to CCI, Rahul's father K Murugesh Babu said he had paid the tournament entry fee at the venue and his son was paired against an opponent in the first round pairing list.

"I left the venue as soon as the first round started because I had work in my office. What happened after I left is very distressing," Babu told CCI.

According to Babu, when his son was in a winning position against his first round opponent, the TDCDA Secretary B Paulkumar told Rahul that he could not continue playing in The Hindu tournament unless he gives an apology letter for having played in tournaments not affiliated to AICF, TNSCA or TDCDA.

Though Babu said his son pleaded to be allowed to continue playing, his words fell on deaf ears. He could only sign the letter with permission from his parents.

"What was the most irresponsible act of the Secretary of TDCDA is that they did not even call me on the phone to tell that my son had been removed from further rounds so that I could come over to take him back home," Babu told CCI.

"It was when Karthick was seen outside the tournament hall when second round was going on that some other participant's parents asked Karthick why he is not playing. He narrated what happened and they called my number and informed me about Karthick's removal from the tournament. Only then I came to know what happened," Babu told CCI in his complaint.

Babu requested the CCI to make the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, AICF and TDCDA answerable.

Babu told IANS that he is yet to receive any communication from AICF President PR Venkatrama Raja to his mail.

On July 12, 2018, the CCI held that undertakings prescribed by the AICF for players regarding non-participation in events not authorised by it amounted to restraints that were in the nature of exclusive distribution and refusal to deal as defined in Section 3(F) and 3(4)D of the Competition Act 2002.

The CCI said the non-compliance of such undertaking will result in banning of players and removal of their Elo rating (a method of calculating the skill level of players in games like chess), create entry barriers, foreclose competition and restrict opportunities available to players.

Speaking to IANS earlier, global chess body FIDE's Vice-President and Grand Master Nigel Short had said if players were banned for playing and several state federations were de-recognised by the AICF, it would be a cause for concern.