All minds on chessboard

Young participants engage in a friendly game of chess. Pics Courtesy/Facebook

Just a couple of years ago, if you had spotted a group huddled around a screen on your commute, you could safely assume they were engaged in the beloved board game, Ludo. Today, however, this popular game of chance is slowly starting to give way to a more cerebral, yet equally captivating pursuit - chess. This growing passion for the game in the city, perhaps, is why ChessBase India, an organisation that promotes the game across the country, is bringing The Big Chess Summer Camp back to the city today for its second season.

Priyanka Ved, a lawyer and chess instructor, is one of the three head coaches who will oversee the gathering of novices and experts alike, assisted by an army of volunteers. Over a short call, Ved explains that the camp is far from the image of a strict, structured camp that its name might have evoked in our minds. "We do not ask the participants to come in every day and sit through long sessions led by a trainer. The camp is free for all, and participants from all walks of life can drop in, work on their game, play a good match with like-minded individuals, and leave as they want."

Participants gather at the venue during a previous edition

To facilitate this unique structure, Ved, along with co-head coaches Nithin Chandan and Shashank Mokashi has developed a self-learning module. A set of 45 activity sheets, beginning from the basics of the game such as identifying pieces, to complex check tactics, will form the foundation of the camp. "You can walk in, pick up a sheet based on your skill level, and work your way up from there. Whether you're a novice or a professional, you can call for a volunteer or a coach if you find yourself struggling with a sheet," she notes, further revealing that each of the sheets feature 10 activities accompanied by diagrams, hints, and instructions.

While the coach admits that younger participants might have an upper hand in picking up on nuances of the game, she insists that nothing is put down in black and white. "We have had participants come along with their mothers and grandparents. By the end of the camp, the grandparents are the ones glued to the sheets," she laughs. On the other hand, we learn that children as young as two-years-old have something to look forward to at the camp. An illustrated book, titled ChessPa (Rs 499), features a friendly grandpa who breaks down the absolute basics of the game. Young readers can get their hands on the book at the venue and the organisation's website.

Priyanka Ved

Amid discussions about the many ways the camp is trying to make the game fun and lucrative for city audiences, Ved reminds us that it's not all fun and games. Completion of all the activity sheets that the camp has to offer opens the doors to a monthly pan-India chess tournament organised by ChessBase India for the participants. "The goal, ultimately, is to get talented minds who show commitment to the game under our wing, and provide them the right platform,"
she concludes.

ON May 13 to 19; 4 pm to 8 pm
AT Atrium 5, Phoenix MarketCity, LBS Marg, Kurla West.
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