In an effort to improve children’s cognitive skills, the government of Tamil Nadu slowly made chess compulsory in state schools. In this case, the state government has offered the students of government schools the opportunity to meet international chess players at the 44th International Chess Olympiad to be held in Mahabalipuram near Chennai from July 28 to August 10 this year.
The 44th International Chess Olympiad where chess players from about 150 provinces were expected to participate in the ‘Chess Festival’. The biggest chess series after the 2013 World Chess Championship is held in India. Exactly, the biggest sporting event ever in India that also hosts the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. The International Chess Federation has authorized games to be held in Chennai due to the Ukraine-Russia war, which was previously slated to take place in Moscow. After this, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the All India Chess Federation are planning to hold the Chess Olympiad in Mahabalipuram.
According to the officials, this year’s chess competition will be special for the students as the winner/eligible students selected from the school-level competition will go to watch the World Chess Olympiad Championship. In addition to the students, school-level chess trainers also get the chance to witness the Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Ultimately, the student’s interaction with the international chess players will encourage them to take the sport to the next level, officials added.
Meanwhile, at the Tiruvallur district level, the competition was held to select the eligible students to watch the Chess Olympiad, in which 175 students participated. The students who take first place in the competition are allowed to attend the Chess Olympiad with free accommodation.
Accordingly, on June 14, on behalf of the Tiruvallur District Chess Association, the under-15 district chess tournament began at Maharishi Vidhya Mandir School in Kavarappettai. 175 students, including 50 students from state schools of Tiruvallur district, took part in the competition.
The winners will receive prizes based on points and the first two will have the chance to attend the World Chess Tournament in Mahabalipuram.
“The final list of students will be drawn up once the local school-level chess competitions are over. This initiative was taken to motivate the students to learn more tips from different coaches in the Olympiad, apart from the interactive sessions,” said the officials.
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