Plunging new depths to promote chess

Sports

pti-PTI

Chennai,
Aug
01:
The
excitement
over
the
ongoing
44th
Chess
Olympiad
near
has
assumed
another
dimension,
with
scuba
divers
and
the
marquee
game’s
mascot,
‘Thambi’ diving
into
the
sea
for
battle
of
brains.

A
lot
of
activities
to
celebrate
the
prestigious
event
and
promote
it
have
been
organised,
with
top
players
matching
their
wits
in
the
prestigious
tournament
at
nearby
Mamallapuram.
Meanwhile,
a
bunch
of
scuba
divers’
dive
into
the
sea
and
them
playing
chess
underwater
at
a
good
depth
while
being
strapped
with
their
gear
has
gone
viral
on
social
media.

One
of
the
divers
was
dressed
up
like
‘Thambi’,
the
knight-mascot
of
the
Olympiad
as
the
others,
at
least
four
of
them,
traded
moves
deep
inside
the
water.
Incidentally,
‘Thambi’
wore
a
‘veshti’
(dhoti)
with
a
chequered
border.

The
divers
also
held
a
banner
about
the
Olympiad
and
the
Indian
tricolour.
The
ongoing
Olympiad
has
seen
the
city
lap
it
up
in
style
and
there
have
been
numerous
initiatives
to
promote
it
including
painting
the
iconic
Napier
Bridge
like
a
chessboard.

‘Thambi’
has
been
ubiquitous
as
he
can
be
spotted
at
various
places
in
the
city
and
on
the
route
leading
to
the
Olympiad
venue
in
Poonjeri
off
Mamallapuram,
a
well-known
tourist
spot.
The
Chess
Olympiad
being
held
in
India
for
the
first
time
ever
has
seen
a
record
number
of
teams
participate
both
in
the
Open
and
women’s
sections
and
some
2,000
players
in
action.