Kathmandu, February 5:

The Nepal Chess Association (NCA) Secretary Bidur Gautam has become the first Nepali FIDE Arbiter.

According to Gautam, the 79th FIDE Congress held in Germany in November last year decided to include him in the list of FIDE Arbiter.

“It is matter of pride for all the Nepali people,” he said in a release. Gautam, who hails from Mangalbare, Ilam was one of the 10 Nepalis who qualified as the National Arbiter five years ago. He got the FIDE Arbiter first norm in 2006 and has acquired eight till date. He has been serving the NCA as Secretary for the last four years.