India is currently showing a great performance in the Budapest 45th Chess Olympiad tournament. Meanwhile, a shocking news has come to light. The prestigious Gaprindashvili Trophy won by India in the Chess Olympiad two years ago has disappeared from the Chennai office of the All India Chess Federation. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has lodged a complaint with the police after the Chess Olympiad trophy went missing.

Chess Olympiad trophy is missing

The Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy is the trophy given to the best performing team in the Chess Olympiad. This tournament is held once in two years and the Indian team won the trophy in the last Chess Olympiad held in Chennai in 2022. Talking to the Indian Express, AICF Vice President Anil Kumar Raizada said, 'We have been looking for the cup for the last few days. The police have been informed. We hope we will solve it as it is a matter of prestige for the country. This is a serious issue and very embarrassing for all of us. The previous administration is giving answers which are not at all helpful in locating the trophy.'

Chess Olympiad will conclude on 23 September

In fact, FIDE had sent an email to AICF requesting India to return the trophy so that it could be handed over to the winners of the Chess Olympiad being held in Budapest on Sunday after the completion of Round 11. A senior AICF official said that after FIDE's request, we tried to find it everywhere, but the trophy could not be found. Let us tell you, the current Chess Olympiad will conclude on September 23 and India is very close to winning it.

The AICF official also said that a replacement trophy has been ordered at the moment. It will not be as special as the original trophy. But it will still be like the original trophy. We apologize for this mistake.