Play Anand, 4 other GMs for a good cause

New Delhi, May 11

Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand and four other Grandmasters will play exhibition matches against any individual player online on Thursday to raise funds for Covid-19 relief in the country.

The four GMs who would feature in the exhibition matches along with Anand are Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Nihal Sarin and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.

“We all know India is struggling hard against Covid-19. At this time, we all have been affected in some way. I don’t think there is a single person young or old who has not been affected by this,” Anand said in a video message posted on chess.com.

“Let us support Covid relief in India. You can play some of India’s finest Grandmasters, and have chess.com match your donations. Please sign up to participate in Checkmate Covid this Thursday,” Anand said. “I look forward to being there and hope we raise money and spirits!”

Any player who has an FIDE standard rating of under 2,000 can play with Anand by donating $150 and with any of the other four GMs by donating $25.

The funds raised would go to Red Cross India and the Checkmate Covid initiative of the All India Chess Federation. — TNS