International Arbiter Swapnil Bansod has reached a significant milestone in his career by being appointed as an arbiter for the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2024. This prestigious event will take place in New York, USA, from December 25th to 31st, 2024. This appointment represents the fifth occasion on which IA Swapnil Bansod has been selected to officiate at international events, and it is notably his first engagement for the World Rapid and Blitz Championships.
This engagement will mark his ninth involvement in World Championship events, further enhancing his distinguished portfolio of international chess tournaments. Top players from around the world are participating in this prestigious event, including world number one GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Hikaru Nakamura, and India’s number one player and world number three, GM Erigaisi Arjun, along with 18 other participants from India.
Swapnil Bansod’s appointment as an arbiter is a proud moment for the city of Nagpur and the entire chess community. He credits his achievements to the unwavering support of his family, the local chess fraternity in Nagpur, and the invaluable guidance from senior arbiters throughout India. Additionally, he emphasizes the ongoing encouragement he receives from the Maharashtra Chess Association and the All-India Chess Federation.