District Collector P. Akash and Chess Bishop CEO S. A. Surya Kumar at a recently held chess tournament in Nagapattinam
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
In a pioneering effort, the Nagapattinam district administration, under the District Education Empowerment Programme (DEEP), has introduced a specialised chess training programme in government schools.
The initiative aims to prepare students to compete in international chess tournaments and establish a sustainable chess ecosystem in the district.
The programme, conceptualised by District Collector P. Akash to create a chess ecosystem in the district, began three months ago and has already completed 1.5 months of training. “Currently, top-performing students are being prepared to participate in upcoming international tournaments, with six students heading to an event in Madurai and four to another in Assam,” said sources in the district administration. Funding for the initiative is provided by the district administration.
The programme trains 150 students, both boys and girls, across under-11, under-14, and under-17 categories, selected from government schools in all six blocks of the district. Weekly two-hour training sessions are held in designated schools within each block, with facilities including projectors, systems, and proper seating arrangements. Chess kits comprising boards, coins, score sheets, and study materials are provided, and a dedicated WhatsApp and Telegram community keeps students engaged.
The training is implemented in collaboration with Chess Bishop, a private organisation founded by S.A. Surya Kumar and K. Aishwarya. The programme employs Sigaram 64, an AI-enabled platform that assesses players’ strengths and weaknesses to guide training. “Sigaram 64 bridges the gap caused by a shortage of chess coaches, automating 80% of the coaching process,” said Mr. Surya.
Chess Bishop’s efforts are supported by the S2G Tamil Nadu startup initiative, which enabled the development of advanced training modules.
The initiative not only aims to produce international-level chess players but also fosters holistic development. Monthly district-level tournaments simulate the competitive environment of global events, and students are gradually being introduced to online platforms for further engagement.
Students selected for the programme are those with prior experience in SDAT (Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) competitions. Orientation sessions for parents are also part of the programme.
The initiative emphasises not just producing international-level players but also holistic personality development. “Chess encourages critical thinking, which has a real-world impact on decision-making and problem-solving,” added Mr. Surya.
Published – December 18, 2024 07:21 pm IST