The All India Chess Federation (AICF) recently found itself in an embarrassing situation after the Gaprindashvili Trophy, awarded for the best overall performance in the Chess Olympiad, went missing from their office. India was the last holder of the trophy, having won it during the 2022 edition of the tournament held at home. The incident surfaced at a critical moment when the Indian men’s team is competing for a gold medal in the ongoing 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, which began on September 10 and will conclude on September 23.
The trophy’s disappearance came to light after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) requested its return for the current tournament. According to AICF vice-president Anil Kumar Raizada, the trophy has been missing for over a month. The federation tried to locate it but ultimately had to file a police complaint to begin an official investigation.
In a bid to resolve the situation, AICF ordered a replica of the trophy, acknowledging that the replacement would not be as unique as the original. “We apologize for the embarrassment caused by this incident,” a senior AICF official stated. The federation has assured that a contingency plan is in place, with the replica expected to be presented at the event.
The Gaprindashvili Trophy is a prestigious rolling award, given to the team with the best combined performance in both the open and women’s divisions. This year’s Olympiad features 197 teams representing 195 national federations, with India’s open team consisting of top players like Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, and Harikrishna Pentala. The women’s team includes Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev.
This unfortunate incident has prompted the AICF to improve its handling of such important trophies in the future. Despite the setback, the focus remains on India’s strong performance in the ongoing tournament.
