'Drunk' Frenchman concedes match

A top-rated French chess player had to concede a game at a major tournament when he dozed off during a match after reportedly showing up drunk, local media said on Friday.

Russian-born Vladislav Tkachiev was declared "lost on time" on Thursday after officials at the Kolkata Open Grandmasters found he was unable to continue his game and had to be carried off, the Indian Express said.

"What happened is unfortunate," tournament co-organiser Soumen Majumder told the paper.

"It's in bad taste. Once the event is over, we will hold a meeting and decide how to proceed against this player."

Tkachiev, 35, completed only 15 moves against India's Praveen Kumar in his third-round game lasting over an hour.

"Each time he fell asleep, players around would try to wake him up with a shake of the shoulder," the paper reported alongside photos showing Tkachiev with his head resting on the table.

"Some even offered him water and Tkachiev, having briefly refreshed himself at the change-room while his opponent waited, dozed off again and eventually had to be carried off."

The paper added that chess star Nigel Short of England expressed disgust at the incident, advising the organisers to promptly eject the player from the tournament.