KOCHI, Feb 16 (Agencies) : Top chess players of world will assemble at the World Junior Chess Championship 2004 to be held here from September 15 to 29.
Nearly 250 players from 100 countries will participate in the meet.
India will field at least 60 players, including medal hopes Grand Master P Harikrishna, National Champion M R Venkatesh and World Junior Silver Medal winner and Grand Master Konuru Humpy, P T Ummer Koya, Secretary All India Chess Federation, told reporters here.
Players below 20 years of age are eligible to participate in the championship, being hosted by the country for the fourth time after 2002 (Goa), 1993 and 1997 (Kozhikode).
With the tournament being made open since 1996, each country could be represented by more than one player and India had benefitted due to the change in the guidelines, Koya said.
Defending champion in the boys section is Shakhariyar Mamedyorov from Azerbaijan and in the girls section Nana Dzavnidze from Georgia.
Surya Shekhar Ganguly was ranked eighth in the last tournament held at Azerbaijan.
The total prize money is Rs 15 lakh.
An organising committee, with Kerala Chief Minister as Chairman and Sports Minister K Sudhakaran as Working Chairman, would soon be formed, Dr John K Johnson, President, All Kerala Chess Association, said.