Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2020 cancelled owing to Covid-19 pandemic

Keeping in view the health and safety of all concerned during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz tournament has been cancelled.

Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz, India’s first chess super tournament, has grown over the last two editions to become a destination tournament on the global chess calendar. With many other firsts to its credit -- such as World Champion Magnus Carlsen participating in - and winning - the 2019 edition, being part of the Grand Chess Tour and hosting 10 Grandmasters, the tournament enjoys huge popularity amongst chess professionals, chess journalists and chess lovers.

Commenting on the cancellation of the tournament this year, Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “Tata Steel is a proud associate of the game of chess worldwide. The first two editions of the Tata Steel Chess India event have met with huge success and future editions of the same are poised to further grow in stature and popularity. In view of the pandemic, and to ensure safety and well-being of Chess enthusiasts & the sports fraternity at large, we have taken a considered view of cancelling the tournament this year. We look forward to better days ahead for everyone and hope to come back next year with renewed zeal and yet another memorable edition.”

Jeroen Van den Berg, Director of the Tata Steel Chess tournaments in both Wijk ann Zee and Kolkata, said: “Being in Kolkata for the past two years for the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz has been an experience like no other. More than anything else, it is the enthusiasm and knowledge of the fans that make the tournament what it is. Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced us to rethink our plans and we regret that we have to cancel the tournament this year.”

Jeet Banerjee, Director of Gameplan Sports Pvt. Ltd., the organisers of the tournament, said: “We remain focused on delivering Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2021 in a way that brings together the chess community in a grand celebration of the game of kings. We are sure we will be back in 2021 with a great line-up and another engaging version of the chess super tournament.”

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group (excluding SEA operations) recorded a consolidated turnover of US $19.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2020.

A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000.

Tata Steel was recognised as DJSI steel sector leader in 2018 and has ranked fourth in the steel sector in 2019. Besides being a member of the worldsteel’s Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel has won several awards and recognitions including the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Kalinganagar Plant - a first in India, and Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17. The Company, ranked as India’s most valuable Metals & Mining brand by Brand Finance, received the ‘Honourable Mention’ at the National CSR Awards 2019, Steel Sustainability Champion 2019 by worldsteel, CII Greenco Star Performer Award 2019, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2020 from Ethisphere Institute, and Best Risk Management Framework & Systems Award (2020) by CNBC TV-18, among several others.

To know more, visit www.tatasteel.com and www.wealsomaketomorrow.com.

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Disclaimer:

Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.

Kulvin Suri

Chief, Corporate Communications-India & SEA

Tata Steel

E-mail: kulvinsuri@tatasteel.com