NEW DELHI (India): Former All India Chess Federation (AICF) president PT Ummer Koya, passed away in his native city in Kerala on Tuesday. He was also the vice-president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for a decade from 1996 to 2006.
Koya, who has been undergoing treatment for various illnesses, breathed his last at his residence in Krishna Menon Road, Panniyankara in Kozhikode district. He was 69.
“We are very thankful for his dedication and his contribution to promoting chess from both institutions, and from FIDE we would like to express our sincerest condolences to his relatives, his loved ones, and all the members of the Indian chess community,” said FIDE tweeted.
In his condolence message, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Ummer Koya will be remembered for making chess popular in the country. “This will be his main contribution,” Vijayan said, adding that several international level players have come up from India due to this.
Several Indian players mourned the death of Koya, who was also an arbiter, by sharing messages on their social media accounts.
“Koya uncle, a visionary, raised the level of chess and chess players in general during his tenure, conducting tournaments including Women Nationals in star hotels. He introduced the exposure trips for the Indian team and that gave us a chance to go abroad and compete with the stronger players of the world,” said India’s Women GM Nisha Mohota on her social media page.
“When I became a WGM in 2003, a huge press conference was conducted in Calicut and due to that I returned to Kolkata as a star! The full shaping of my chess career was in his tenure, so feeling a deep sense of grief,” added the Calcutta-based player.
Koya held various posts at AICF, first as Joint Secretary between 1985-89 , and then as president from 1989-2005.
Indian chess achieved glorious heights during his tenure. He was instrumental in establishing age category chess championships at National and worid level. He set standards in organization of chess Tournaments in India.
