Big-time chess returns to India with Tata Steel tourney

The $40,000 prizemoney tournament, with Aronian as top seed, begins today

In this the birth centenary year of Satyajit Ray, it was perhaps only fitting that Levon Aronian talked about the Apu Trilogy. More so at a function held here in Ray’s hometown.

“I am a big fan of Ray,” Aronian said of one of Kolkata’s greatest sons, after the draws were made at Hotel Taj Bengal on Tuesday evening for the third edition of the Tata Steel Chess, India’s only world-class chess event. The Armenian may have pleasantly surprised many when he spoke about how he enjoyed watching those three classics by Ray (Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar).

Of course, he also talked of chess and the challenges the young Indians posed. It would indeed be interesting to find out how the Indian contingent without their icon, Viswanathan Anand, who is here though as a brand ambassador and mentor, would take on Aronian and other big stars from abroad at the $ 40,000, five-day tournament, the opening move of which will be made at the National Library on Wednesday.