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India gets two more entries

By Our Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD OCT. 7. The advantage of hosting the chess World Cup was amply demonstrated when the All India Chess Federation earned another significant favour from the world body, FIDE. It got two more entries in the women's sections for the meet to be held at the Ramoji Film City from October 9 to 21. India's latest sensation Dronavalli Harika and seasoned campaigner, Bhagyasree Thipsay, are the two new entries.

Mr. P.T. Ummer Koya, secretary AICF, disclosed this at an official briefing on Monday afternoon. "Since the Algerians Farida Aoucha (Elo 2070) and Houli Asma (unrated) have pulled out, we thought it would be apt to give entry to the next best from India. Since Harika hails from Guntur district of the host State, she was given preference by virtue of her impressive performances of late,'' he explained.

This is in addition to the two special entries given to Surya Sekhar Ganguly and S. Meenakshi, both from India, by FIDE last week.

The Chief Aribiter, Mr. Casto B. Abundo of Phillipines, who inspected the facilities at the venue along with a team of FIDE officials, expressed complete satisfaction and even went further saying that in his 20-year long association with so many world championships, he had never seen such wonderful cooperation and complete support.

He also disclosed that the 24 players in the men and women's sections will be split into four groups of six each. They will play a round-robin league and the top two from each group will qualify for the knockout phase.

He also said that the groupings would be finalised after the players' meeting on October 9 an hour before the inaugural ceremony.

"As per norms it has been decided that not more than two players from the same country will be in the same group,'' he said to another query. All games will begin at 1.30 p.m. and will be staged in two big halls in the Sitara Hotel in the Film City.

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