National 'B' in Goa will be a pivotal event - AICF

All India Chess Federation's (AICF's) decision of
giving status of GM norm for the National 'B' championship
to be held at Goa in June next is considered as a pivotal step
in the important process of having more Indian Grandmasters.
AICF's central council meeting here has made good use of
the International Federation's (FIDE) ruling by giving
GM norm for National 'B' tournaments. Hitherto, only
National 'A' was considered as GM norm tournament.

FIDE allows its national affiliates to have any one
of the domestic championships under GM norm regulations
without the mandatory foreign players' participation.
"It is a right step in the direction of giving scope
to a larger number of players to achieve the vital GM
(or IM) norm and it would help India have more than the
present 17 GMs in a shorter time," D V Sundar,
Secretary, AICF, said.

"I am delighted and honoured that AICF has chosen Goa
as the site for the first norm version of the National 'B'"
was the reaction of GSCA President Sameer A. Salgaocar,
who also happens to be Vice President of the AICF and attended
the crucial meeting in Chennai. "We will take all the steps
necessary to make it a show piece event", he added.

The meeting also decided the qualification criteria for
the National 'A' championship (a 14-player event from 2008).
The top 11 finishers in National 'B' (to be held in Chennai
from February 3 to 16, 2008) and three top seeded players
of National 'A' would be eligible to compete in 2008 National 'A'.

In 2005, the system had 22 players competing in all-play-all
format. The players' association requested for a change
since it was taking about 25 days to finish the event.
Consequently, the National Women 'B' would be a 12-player
event with nine qualifying from National 'B' and three seeded
stars from National Women 'A'. Players with highest FIDE ratings
(five each of men and women) would be allowed to represent
India in the Chess Olympiads.

For the 2008 Dresden Olympiad, the AICF has decided the FIDE April
ratings list as criteria for selection.