The All India Chess Federation (AICF) took an important decision to revoke a one year ban on grandmaster G.N. Gopal. The decision was taken at the Central Council and Annul General Meeting in Chennai. GM Gopal finally got the justice!
Geetha Narayanan Gopal, twent years old, grandmaster since 2007
In the last year, Indian Grandmaster G.N. Gopal’s decision to skip the 46th National ‘A’ chess championship proved costly. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) took disciplinary action against the player.
The AICF decided not to recommend GM G.N. Gopal, who had skipped the last National ‘A’ championship despite being warned by the federation to represent India in any official tournaments, for a year with immediate effect. That, in effect, put the Kochi-based player out of any official Indian team for one year. He was, however, free to play in tournaments for which he is personally invited.
The decision was taken in Chennai at the AICF Central Council meeting, which found his reasons for staying away from the last National ‘A’ championship held in Mangalore last December, and playing in a tournament overseas instead, unsatisfactory.
CPAI
helped GopalThe Chess Players Association of India launched a protest, stating, "We would also like to bring to your notice that decisions pertaining to players taken in AICF meetings are not communicated to the players. Hence the players are not aware of all the rules and regulations".
"There are many instances of players skipping the National A but the AICF did not take any action. The punishment against Gopal is very harsh," said Verghese Koshy, a senior player and reputed coach. CPAI president GM Tejas Bakre said it would request the AICF to reconsider its decision.
From G. N. Gopal to GM Gopal, it truly has been a sensational journey for an 18-year-old. He made his three norms within a space of six months – at the International Open in Kolkata, the Lake Sevan in Armenia and the Asian Zonal in Dhaka. He became Kerala's first grandmaster.
He won his first National title in 2001, the Under-12 rapid. In 2004, he won the bronze at the Asian under-14 championship in Tehran. The same year, he won the National junior title too.
Note that his name is Gopal, and in the South Indian system you call him that if you know him well. If you wish to be formal you must address him as Mr. Gopal. Never call him Geetha, which is his mother's name (Narayana is his father, these being added to the given name in the Indian tradition). In lists and records he is simply GN Gopal.
Name: G.N. Gopal
Age & Date of Birth: 20 years, 29-03-1989
Parents - Father: Prof: B. Narayana Pillai
Mother: Prof: Geetha Prakasini
MySpace: http://gopalchess.blogspot.com/
