Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel played Chess with Grand Master Praveen Thipsay
Chess Olympiad Torch received a grand welcome in the capital Raipur, as
soon as the torch relay reached Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium, Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram resonated 
School children gave a warm welcome by waving flags of different countries
Torch relay was welcomed and honored with perennial dance and torch song for a glimpse of Chhattisgarhia culture Today Chhattisgarh witnessed the historic moment of 44th Chess Olympiad being organized for the first time in India. The Chess Olympiad Torch Relay reached Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, at its 61st stop via Bhubaneswar. On the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, this torch relay will travel through 75 cities of the country to reach Chennai where it will be received by Grand Master Shri Vishwanath Anand.
Torch relay was given a grand welcome as soon as it reached the capital Raipur. The torch relay reached Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium at 10.30 am while traveling from the airport to the city. As soon as the torch relay arrived, the auditorium premises reverberated with the chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram. Here school children waving flags of different countries gave a rousing welcome to the torch. Grand Master Mr. Praveen Thipsay handed over the torch relay to Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel at the reception held at the auditorium. On this occasion, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel inspired people to play this intellectual game by playing chess with Grand Master Mr. Praveen Thipsay. Grand Master Mr. Thipsay encouraged the talented chess players of the state by playing chess as well.
Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Umesh Patel, Chhattisgarh Housing Board President Shri Kuldeep Juneja, Mayor Raipur Shri Ejaz Dhebar, Chhattisgarh Olympic Association General Secretary Shri Gurcharan Singh Vora, Chhattisgarh Chess Association President Shri Raghvendra Singhania, Sports and Youth Welfare Secretary of the department Mr. Neelam Namdev, Director Mrs. Shweta Srivastava Sinha and a large number of school children were present. 
In the welcome and honor of Torch Relay, the famous perennial dance of Chhattisgarh was presented by the artists. A charming glimpse of the culture of Chhattisgarh was shown through the Teej-festivals celebrated throughout the year in the dance. Along with this, the artists gave their performances on the torch song ‘Respect the players of nation Hindustan……….. Significantly, for the first time in the 95-year history of Chess Olympiad, India has got the host of the 44th Chess Olympiad. This will be the biggest sporting event ever to be held in India. 188 countries are likely to participate in this Chess Olympiad. Chess Olympiad Torch Relay is being organized from 19th June to 28th July in 75 cities of the country under the 75th Amrit Mahotsav of Independence. The Chess Olympiad Torch Relay from Raipur will reach Hyderabad.
