Veteran chess official Muralidhar Naidu no more

Naidu was an integral part of any chess tournament in the then united Andhra Pradesh and was also a former secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Chess Association

Hyderabad: One of the most respected chess officials from Hyderabad, I Muralidhar Naidu, passed away last week, according to delayed information. He was 76 and survived by his wife and two sons.

Naidu, as he was affectionately called in the chess circles, was an integral part of any chess tournament in the then united Andhra Pradesh and was also a former secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Chess Association.

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Alongside a distinguished banking career, Naidu, who was very knowledgeable in chess with a striking voice, was instrumental in organising and officiating many chess tournaments, including major international events that brought global recognition to Indian chess, including the World Chess Championship (1994-95) in Sanghi Nagar (Hyderabad), and the 2002 World Cup in Ramoji Film City.

The chess fraternity mourned the demise of Naidu, who will be badly missed, even as the services he rendered to promote chess in a big way are now part of acknowledged history.