Big plans for chess in India

Interesting days lie ahead for knights and queens, if one is to go by what newly elected All India Chess Federation president Sanjay Kapoor said at a press conference in the Capital on Sunday.

Kapoor, a businessman from Uttar Pradesh unveiled a blueprint for promoting chess at the grass-root level so that India can produce more Grandmasters and International Masters. For a country which has produced iconic world champion Vishy Anand and also a star like Koneru Humpy, Kapoor said chess would be introduced at the school level.

He and AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said the curriculum was being worked out for chess in schools. They said they were in touch with the state authorities and are looking at the right people who can teach chess.

Asked about what role Kapoor envisaged for Anand, he said: “Bharat has spoken to Vishy Anand and he is our brand ambassador as well as a guiding force for us.”

The AICF also plans to bid for the next available Chess Olympiad and a high-profile chess League soon. “We want India to become the chess destination for the world. We have drawn out a detailed plan to achieve this goal,” added Kapoor. The media interaction was held after the AGM of the federation.

There is also a proposal to launch a national chess academy. “We have to see which state in India wants to support this. The academy will aim be a finishing school for top players,” said Kapoor.

“For a long time, we have been keen on starting the Indian Chess League with an international flavour to popularise the game even more. The first edition, following the franchise-model, will be organised before this year is through,” said Kapoor, who is also the chairman of the Kanpur Cricket Association.

For the record, India has hosted blue-riband chess events before but the revival of the sport, as promised by the new AICF bosses will be watched with interest.