City checkmates chess enthusiasts

A cerebral game that originated in India, chess can enhance brain power in the young. And yet, this brilliant game is treated shabbily by the AP government and academia. Several prospective Viswanathan Anands in the City wilt unsung due to crass apathy to the game

Chess players in the City suffer a shameful neglect. It is not that the game is not given its rightful place. It’s not even being encouraged while it costs virtually nothing to do so.

Look at the tell-tale signs of this apathy towards the game. A flyer released in the wake of a forthcoming chess tournament in the City requested the participants to bring their own chess sets and timer clocks!

Chess academies continue to mint money in the name of tournaments that are devoid of all amenities, including the basic gear for the game.

This is not a fresh case of bureaucratic and academic indifference to the game. Chess has not been allocated a single penny in the State’s sports budget for the last five years! The reason being that it is not an Olympic game as it does not involve any physical activity.

Prashant Narayan, a chess player, says, “Most of these tournaments do not follow a systematic game sequence. Classical games are not given importance anymore as the tournament is decided based on blitz and bullet games.”

Players and chess coaches in AP look at neighbouring states wistfully. While the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have made chess a compulsory subject in their school curriculum, AP has done nothing of the sort.

Tulasi Ram Kumar, a rated chess player says, “We are amazed at the kind of amenities provided to us at tournaments in other states. Andhra Pradesh lags far behind in doing so. As if this was not enough, there is too much importance being given for half-hour and 15-minute games to wrap up the tournament early. Players too find this as an option to bag cash prizes easily. This is perhaps one reason why players from other states are not interested in participating here.”

SAAP’s indifference towards the game has left players high and dry. Even as the nation celebrates Vishwanathan Anand’s consistent hold over the world championship, Andhra Pradesh is yet to give importance to this game. The fact that not a single penny has been allocated for chess speaks volumes about the authorities’ attitude towards games. Many representations and even private meetings made with the sports minister, Vatti Vasanth Kumar have given our players a taste of ministerial checkmate.

Advantages of playing chess

1. Chess has been proven to increase dendrite formation in nerve cells.
2. Studies claim that chess players have significant amount of brain activity that stimulates both halves of the brain, leading to increased
3. dexterity and mental performance.
4. Memory retention is one of chess’ advantages, both on the board and off.
5. Recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicate that chess players are less prone to Alzheimers’ disease and dementia.
6. Playing chess also improves IQ significantly thereby enhancing brain power and an increase in problem-solving, reading, and concentration skills.

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Category: City, City News