FIDE restores the ratings of two players fighting AICF

In line with its May announcement, global chess body FIDE on Friday restored the Elo rating of Indian chess players Gurpreet Pal Singh and Karun Duggal, much to their happiness and relief.

"I am happy. After several years, my rating has been restored. Thanks to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Vice President Nigel Short," Singh told .

Singh, who used to figure in the top 100 players in India prior to being banned by All India Chess Federation (AICF) from playing, got back his rating of a credible 2,306 points.

"It was happy news. I just checked the FIDE website and saw my rating was restored. We should thank Dvorkovich and Short for this," Duggal (Elo 1,990 points) told .

But with a tinge of regret, he added: "After nine years, I got back my rating. However, there is not much of excitement. I will have to play in overseas tournaments to improve my rating."

Both Singh and Duggal are also aware that there is still a long fight against the AICF before they can again start playing in India.

In a statement in May, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich had said that "nearly a decade ago, the FIDE, at the behest of AICF, removed the Elo ratings of dozens of players and expunged their names from the records. Today we are delighted to welcome back all those players with immediate effect".

According to chess players, the FIDE is restoring the chess ratings of Indian players that were withdrawn years ago.

Singh, Duggal and two other chess players - Hemant Sharma, Devendra Bajpai - had filed a complaint against the AICF with the Competition Commission of India, alleging contravention of the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act.

The action came after they were banned by the AICF from playing in chess tournaments for the past several years and their Elo ratings were also withdrawn. However, Sharma was re-registered with the AICF in 2016.

The case in the CCI is still pending despite its order against the AICF in July 2018.

On July 12, 2018, the CCI had held that the undertaking prescribed by the AICF for players regarding non-participation in events not authorised by it amounts to restraints that were in the nature of exclusive distribution and refusal to deal as defined in Section 3(f) and 3(4)(d) of the Competition Act, 2002.

Imposing a penalty of Rs 6,92,350 on the AICF for infringing the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, the CCI had held that non-compliance with such an undertaking will result in banning of players and removal of their Elo rating, create entry barriers, foreclose competition and restrict the opportunities available to chess players.

In its latest order on the dispute on June 19, the CCI had directed the AICF to confirm through an affidavit by July 10 that it has removed the undertaking to be given by players that they will not play in tournaments not authorised by it.

Meanwhile, the FIDE is restoring the chess ratings of Indian players that were withdrawn years ago. However, mails sent to it on the status of the restoration remained unanswered.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@.in)

( With inputs from IANS )