29DEC
STARS OF KERALA - IA GOPAKUMAR MS
IA GOPAKUMAR M S
He is an ‘A’ Classified International Arbiter and member of Green Panel Arbiter of International Chess Federation (FIDE). In 2022, FIDE nominated him as Councilor of the Fair Play Commission and he became the first Indian to achieve the feat. He is a qualified FIDE Lecturer and Examiner to train and examine the Arbiters and a FIDE Instructor.
He is an ‘A’ Classified International Arbiter and member of Green Panel Arbiter of International Chess Federation (FIDE). In 2022, FIDE nominated him as Councilor of the Fair Play Commission and he became the first Indian to achieve the feat. He is a qualified FIDE Lecturer and Examiner to train and examine the Arbiters and a FIDE Instructor.
He was born as the second child of Late Shri. Sudhakaran Nair and Smt. Leela Sudhakaran on 15th March 1981 at Pattambi, Kerala. He has done his schooling at Govt High School Kodumunda and Govt Oriental High School Pattambi while spending his college days at Govt College Pattambi and Govt Law College Calicut.
His Chess career started in the year 1993 and became State Champion of Kerala in Under-12 section in the same year. He represented Kerala State and Services team in several national championships.
As an Arbiter his career started in the year 1996 at local Kerala events and officiated his first national event in the year 2002. He became FIDE Arbiter in the year 2007 and International Arbiter two years later.
With his sound knowledge and untiring attitude, he made rapid strides in his career and officiated in prestigious tournaments in India and abroad. He officiated as Deputy Chief Arbiter of World Chess Olympiad and the first Indian to become Chief or Deputy Chief Arbiter in an Olympiad and also, he becomes one and only Arbiter so far to officiate in World Cup as well as Fair Play Officer for World Championship Final.
He actively contributed to revamping the FIDE Arbiters Manual, the Laws of Chess as well as currently FIDE nominated him to the working group to rewrite the laws. He has rich experience as an Arbiter by officiating in World Championship, World Cup, 4 Olympiads, World Team Championships, World Rapid & Blitz, World Youth Championships, Commonwealth Chess Championships, Asian Championships and many International and National events. It is pertinent to mention that he was the Deputy Chief Arbiter for the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou, China.
He is a keen athlete and a middle-distance runner. He won several medals in athletics at various stages of his career and is currently a qualified Technical Official of athletics too under Athletics Federation of India. He follows all the sporting activities keenly and likes to play Cricket, Football and Badminton.
He got married to Divya in the year 2006 and was blessed with two daughters Gauri and Gayathri.