Russia was scheduled to host the Chess Olympiad but after the war broke out with Ukraine, news wafted that World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich was looking for a fresh host for the Olympiad. This was last month, in mid-March and All India Chess Federation (AICF) secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, sensing a door half-open, knocked with a message to Dvorkovich “India is open to organising any chess event”. The one-word reply, more in the form of a question from Dvorkovich, ‘Olympiad?’ had the AICF secretary springing to action immediately and asking for 24 hours to confirm back. Chennai would be hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad, the biggest sports extravaganza ever in India, with about 160-190 countries in the fray at Mamallapuram, about 60kms from Chennai from 28th July to 10th August.