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US bound Parimarjan Negi unsure if he would now qualify to play for India

GM Parimarjan Negi, who is leaving for the United States on Saturday to pursue his university degree at Stanford, is not sure whether current rules will allow him to play in team events for India in near future.

US bound Parimarjan Negi unsure if he would now qualify to play for India

New Delhi: GM Parimarjan Negi, who is leaving for the United States on Saturday to pursue his university degree at Stanford, is not sure whether current rules will allow him to play in team events for India in near future.

"The current rule is heavily loaded in favour of players, who will be playing in the National Chess Championship. If you play Nationals, you are awarded 75 points straightaway, which paves the way for selection in marquee events like Olympiad," Negi told mediapersons at the launch of his maiden book on Chess Openings titled "Grandmasters Repertoire".

Negi, who was instrumental in India getting their maiden bronze at the recently concluded Chess Olympiad in Norway said,"From now on, it will be difficult for me to play in the Nationals. So if I can't maintain an ELO Rating in the range of 2675, I won't be representing India.

"I have spoken to the chess federation officials about it. Hopefully, some measures are taken so that I can still play for India in major events if my ELO rating," said Negi, who will now play some on and off tournaments in and around the United States.

His maiden book was released by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju at the Airports Authority of India Officer's Institute on Friday.