Ex-Player, Banned By Chess Body, Sends Legal Notice To AICF. Demands Rs 1 Crore

Perhaps for the first time in its history, All India Chess Federation (AICF) has been served with a legal notice demanding Rs.1 crore as compensation by Karun Duggal, a player whose playing career was cut short by the chess body's decision of banning him during his career peak. "A legal notice has been sent to AICF demanding Rs.1 crore as compensation for the financial and professional damages incurred due to AICF's action that cut short my and several other upcoming player's chess career," Duggal told IANS.

As per the legal notice sent to AICF states, "The total amount being claimed Rs 1 Crore, which includes Loss of opportunity, Loss of Sponsorships and Endorsements, harassment at foreign soil due to your unlawful practices, loss of professional growth, loss of opportunity to get promotion and increment in job, Legal and Professional Costs, Other Incidental Costs for severe mental distress along with the expenses incurred in taking all possible legal steps against you the notice."

Four players – Duggal, Gurpreet Pal Singh, Hemant Sharma and Devendra Bajpai – had filed a complaint to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against AICF alleging contravention of provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the Act. The players had complained to CCI that their Elo rating points were removed by AICF without giving any prior notice due to their participation in the chess tournament sponsored by the Chess Association of India (CAI) in 2010, which was not authorised by AICF.

Duggal, a school teacher and two-time Delhi State Rapid Chess champion, had an Elo rating of 1,979 points when it was revoked. For a chess player gaining Elo points is a tough task as he/she has to play in several rated chess tournaments and win games to gain