OSCA announces State meet,: Ad-hoc Committee opposes

The dispute involving chess in Orissa intensified with Orissa State Chess Association (OSCA), the original governing body but expelled by National body, announcing to conduct its State championship at Secretariat Recreation Club in Bhubaneswar from November 27 to 29. The nine-round tournament would carry a total cash prize of Rs 25,000, including Rs 6,000 for the winner. Details about the tournament can be had from Debasish Panigrahi (Mobile: 9938318787) or Rama Narayan Gochhikar (Mobile: 9238699613). OSCA secretary Smruti Ranjan Das admitted that the event would be an open tournament and would not serve as the basis for selection of players for National ‘B’ championship. It can be recalled that OSCA was expelled by All India Chess Federation (AICF) for various acts of ommission and commission earlier this year. And for the past eight months, a five-member ad-hoc committee has been managing the game in the state while the matter is being tried in the court. Meanwhile, the ad-hoc committee today opposed the ensuing OSCA meet and threatened legal action. ‘‘The official state championship was held under the aegis of the ad-hoc committee at Rourkela earlier in July and the top four finishers represented Orissa in the National ‘B’ at Kolkata in August,’’ clarified committee convenor Manoj Panigrahi. He also said that players should not be confused about the status of the OSCA meet and participation might invite disciplinary action.