Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022 : 1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India. 2. The official mascot was named 'Thambi'. 3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup. 4. The trophy for the winning team in the women's section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup. How many of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Why the answer is (b)
• The 44th Chess Olympiad was held at Mamallapuram near Chennai from 28 July to 10 August 2022 — the first time India hosted the event (statement 1 correct), after it was moved from Russia.
• Statement 2 is correct: the mascot was a knight in a veshti named 'Thambi' ('younger brother' in Tamil).
• Statements 3 and 4 are reversed: the Hamilton-Russell Cup is the trophy for the open section and the Vera Menchik Cup for the women's section, so both are wrong.
• India won bronze in both sections; Uzbekistan and Ukraine took the golds.
• Hence two statements, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one
- Both statements 1 and 2 are correct, giving two.
- (c) Only three
- Statements 3 and 4 have the trophies swapped.
- (d) All four
- Statements 3 and 4 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.