CHESS

MoU for World Chess Championship

All India Chess Federation (AICF), the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and the World Chess Federation (FIDE) signed an MoU on 19 April 2013 for the World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, which is scheduled to be held from 6 November 2013 to 26 November 2013 in Chennai. This is for the first time that the World Chess Championship match will be held in India and it came to Chennai without bidding.

FIDE Chief Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in 2012, met Jayalalithaa for hosting the match in India, but its bid was lesser than Russia’s. However, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, despite this, offered the event to Chennai without the bid. This happened for the first time in the history of World Chess Championship. The organising rights of the event were given by FIDE to the private firm called AGON. AGON will be responsible for securing the sponsors of the event.

GOLF

Houston Open 2013

American DA Points won the Houston Open 2013 on 1 April 2013. He had won earlier the Pebble Beach National ProAm in 2011. He was in contention for winning the Houston open all week. He added six birdies on the final day of tournament to ensure his victory. Stewart Cink, Stenson and Bill Haas also participated in the tournament. Stenson bogeyed the 13th but birdies at four of the final five holes saw him finish runner-up with Horschel, who earned his second-place finish with five birdies on the front nine. England’s Brian Davis scored 67 on the final day to finish in a tie for sixth, one shot behind Dustin Johnson and Ben Crane.

Augusta Masters Golf Tournament

Adam Scott won the Augusta Masters Golf championship on 14 April 2013. He beat Angel Cabrera in the play-off for the title. It was his maiden major title. He became the first Australian to win Augusta Masters. Australian Jason Day, runner up with Scott in 2011, was third at seven under with Tiger Woods (70) and another Australian Marc Leishman (72) tied for fourth at five under. Adam Scott is 32 years old. He turned professional in 2000. His ranking at present is 7. He has 9 US PGA tour wins and an equal number of European PGA tour wins to his credit.

BADMINTON

Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Championship Title

Championship title after defeating Punjab in the six-wicket victory on 31 March 2013 at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Punjab won the toss and elected to bat first. The team scored 122 runs in 20 overs with a loss of 8 wickets.

Gujarat accomplished the score with 13 balls remaining.

Gujarat clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20

About Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Championship

• Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Championship is the domestic cricket championship of India.
• It is organised by Board of Control for Cricket in India.
• The inaugural season of Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Championship was 2008-09 season.
• Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Championship is named after the Indian cricketer, Syed Mushtaq Ali.

ARCHERY/SHOOTING

ISSF World Cup in 25-M Pistol Event

Rahi Sarnobat clinched the first gold for India in International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Korea on 5 April 2013. She defeated Kyeongae Kim 8-6 in 25m pistol final.

She is the first pistol shooter from India who won the Gold in World Cup.

About Rahi Sarnobat

• Rahi Sarnobat is the first Indian to win Gold in World Cup in pistol event.
• She joined the league of some of the eminent shooters such as Gagan Narang, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Anjali Bhagwat, Ronjan Singh Sodhi, Sanjeev Rajput and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
• Rahi Sarnobat was also the youngest Indian shooter at London Olympics 2012.
• In 2011, she won a bronze after qualifying for the Olympics.