This is more or less in keeping with national ratings, except that Thipsay will be playing on a higher board because of his experience and his placing in the nationals.

The order will continue throughout the Olympiad, the rule being that a player can be fielded only in an ascending order of boards, which means that the top board player can only play on the top board or he has to rest. The second reserve can at best play on the fourth board.

National champion S Vijayalakshmi will play on the top board in the women's section, five-time National champion Bhagyashree Thipsay on the second, India number two Pallavi Shah on the third and Swati Ghate on the reserve board.

The delay in the start has resulted in the competition being reduced by one round to 13 with only one rest day, chief arbiter Geurt Gijssen announced here after a meeting last night withteam captains and managers

Chess Palace, the venue located at the centre of the new city, was being given final touches for the Olympiad.

A new time control and a new chess clock will be introduced in the Olympiad for the first time. The Fischer Clock has 100 minutes for the first 40 moves and 50 for the next 20 moves.