UPSC Prelims 2023 Q96: Current Affairs – Other Sports & Personalities
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
44th Chess Olympiad 2022 — Chennai
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Correct Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First time Chess Olympiad held in India | TRUE | The 44th Chess Olympiad (July–August 2022) held in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu was the first time India hosted the Chess Olympiad in the event's 95+ year history. |
| 2 | Official mascot named 'Thambi' | TRUE | The mascot was 'Thambi' — a young boy in traditional Tamil attire, representing Tamil culture. 'Thambi' means 'younger brother' in Tamil. |
| 3 | Trophy for winning team in open section = Vera Menchik Cup | FALSE | The Vera Menchik Cup is awarded to the women's section winner, not the open section. The Hamilton-Russell Cup is awarded to the open section winner. |
| 4 | Trophy for winning team in women's section = Hamilton-Russell Cup | FALSE | As above, Hamilton-Russell Cup = open section. Vera Menchik Cup = women's section. Pairs 3 and 4 are exactly swapped. |
Statements 1 and 2 correct → Only two.
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — both Statement 1 (first time in India) and Statement 2 (Thambi mascot) are correct.
- (b) CORRECT. India hosted the Chess Olympiad for the first time in 2022 (1) and the mascot was Thambi (2). The trophy descriptions for open and women's sections are swapped (3 and 4 wrong).
- (c) Incorrect. 'Only three' — statements 3 and 4 have definitively swapped the trophy attributions.
- (d) Incorrect. 'All four' — statements 3 and 4 are swapped; Vera Menchik Cup ≠ open section.
Key point
44th Chess Olympiad 2022: First in India ✓. Mascot = Thambi ✓. Hamilton-Russell = OPEN. Vera Menchik = WOMEN'S. Statements 3 and 4 are swapped. Only 1 and 2 correct.
Remember
The 44th Chess Olympiad 2022 was the first held in India, with mascot 'Thambi'. The Hamilton-Russell Cup is for the open section winner and the Vera Menchik Cup is for the women's section winner — the descriptions in statements 3 and 4 are swapped.
Common mistakes
- Swapping the trophy names — Hamilton-Russell (open section) and Vera Menchik (women's section) are frequently confused.
- Not knowing the Chess Olympiad was first held in India in 2022 — India's hosting was a landmark for Indian chess.
- Not knowing the mascot name — 'Thambi' (Tamil for younger brother) was widely publicised during the Chennai Olympiad.
Exam tip
Vera Menchik = Russian-British world chess champion (died 1944) = women's section named after her. Hamilton-Russell = open section donor name. Remember: female champion = women's trophy. Thambi = Tamil mascot 2022. First India hosting = 2022.
Sources
- FIDE — Chess Olympiad Trophies and History
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — 44th Chess Olympiad 2022