Tamil Nadu govt, sponsor firms cash in on India's first Chess Olympiad

Ahead of kick-off on Thursday, state seizes marketing potential and companies ride on tech to engage fans

As the countdown to the Chess Olympiad approached its end on Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu government and corporate partners already made their opening gambit.

A unique experience coloured with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) is set to offer fans a new way of engaging as the Chess Olympiad kicks off on Thursday — for the first time in India, the land that invented the cerebral game.

While corporate companies are trying to cash in on the chess fever, international players have given the thumbs up to the facilities in Chennai and Mamallapuram.

The state government