Knight Raider team member heading to the 2010 Chess Olympiad
September 18, 2010 - 11:01pm
Nineteen-year-old Texas Tech freshman Grandmaster Andre Diamant, 2008-09 Brazilian National Chess champion, is heading to the 2010 Chess Olympiad to compete against some of the world’s best players. The Chess Olympiad will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Monday-Oct. 4. He is the first Knight Raider to qualify for this prestigious event. It speaks volumes for Tech and Lubbock to be able to attract this kind of world-class talent.
Nearly 1,500 of the best chess players from all over the world are projected to compete in this year’s Chess Olympiad and Women’s Chess Olympiad. More countries are expected to be represented in the Chess Olympiad than the summer or winter Olympics. FIDE (World Chess Federation) has 171 national federations. It is the second-largest sports organization in the world, behind only soccer.
According to CBS and other sources, there are approximately 45 million people in the United States who play chess and more than 700 million worldwide. There are also more children who play chess in this country than major sports such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, etc.
I will join Andre in Khanty-Mansiysk to promote Texas Tech, SPICE and to recruit additional top talent. I am also the co-chair of FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and Ambassador for Troms, Norway 2014 Chess Olympiad bid.
Source: Avalanche Journal
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