Round-robin format is back

CHENNAI: After five years, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has realised that the Swiss format won't work for its Premier National.
The national federation, in its annual general meeting here, decided to go back to the all-play-all format from next year, consigning the Swiss system to the archives. The round-robin national, with 14 players, will also have increased prize money and more changes with regard to the participation of top players.
Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, vice-president of AICF, said the players wanted the change.He said nine players would qualify from the National Challengers (the previous National B), four top-rated Indians and the previous National champion would form the field for the Premier National from 2013.
It was in 2007 in Atul (Valsad) that AICF first experimented with the Swiss system for its Premier National. From the traditional 20 and 22-player round-robin suddenly the field went up to 45 and 50 as the National Challengers became bulkier with every passing year.
Naturally, privileges were handed to some strong players and those above 2650 got the benefit of not having to come through the Nationals at all, getting direct entry into the national teams along with Viswanathan Anand. Krishnan Sasikiran and Pentala Harikrishna were the beneficiaries as they mostly belonged to this bracket in all the lists in the last few years.
Following in the footsteps of the World chess federation (Fide), the AICF also decided to do away with the immunity system that gave privileges to players when they represented India in team championships and exposure trips. Which means from 2013 onwards, Sasikiran and Harikrishna will have to play in the Premier National should they be considered for the exposure trips and other individual events.
A source said the players agreed for the change but they wanted a bigger purse for the Premier National. The AICF will fund the organizers six lakh and the prize money will be Rs 10 lakh from next year. However, the teams for Olympiad and Asian championship will have the four top-rated players plus the National champion.
The immunisty system had to go because the 2650-bracket for India was getting bigger in the last couple of lists with Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Abhijeet Gupta and Parimarjan Negi getting closer. Rating privileges would have made the National championship meaningless.
Barua agreed that the changes would now make the National Challengers a real battle-field. "Previously, the top 30 players qualified to the Swiss National Premier but now it comes down to nine," said the former National champion. In a way, the decision restored radition.