44th Chess Olympiad Murals

In celebration of the 44th Chess Olympiad hosted in Tamil Nadu, St+art India Foundation executed two large-scale murals on the North and South walls of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) head office. These murals, dedicated to the event’s mascot, 'Thambi,' were commissioned by TNUHDB to honour the city’s rich chess heritage and to infuse a vibrant, celebratory spirit into Chennai’s urban landscape.

The murals, prominently located off Marina Beach on Kamarajar Road, explore two dual aspects of 'Thambi.' One mural captures Thambi in a commanding, head-on stance with Chennai’s cityscape forming the backdrop. This representation symbolises Tamil Nadu’s dominance and conquering spirit in chess, a state that is home to 26 of India’s 74 Grandmasters. The other mural, by contrast, depicts a gentler and humbler side of Thambi, reflecting the grounded yet ambitious ethos of Tamil Nadu despite its stature as a global chess hub.