The Most Chess-Obsessed Country in the World
5 days ago
- #education
- #chess
- #India
- Chess is immensely popular in India, with hundreds of tournaments held daily, making it one of the most chess-obsessed countries in the world.
- Chess is seen as a pathway to educational advancement and a route out of poverty, with clubs and academies expanding access to the game.
- Victorious Chess Academy in Pune, founded by Kapil Lohana, helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with one student becoming India’s 69th grandmaster in 2021.
- Chess improves academic performance, decision-making, critical thinking, and memory skills, as observed in young players like Om Ramgude and Aparna Bodhe’s twins.
- Research supports the link between chess and academic improvement, with studies showing enhanced performance in math and science among students who play chess.
- India has emerged as a global chess power, with about 90 grandmasters and over 30,000 FIDE-rated players, including prodigies like Gukesh Dommaraju and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.
- Marottichal, a village in Kerala, transformed from an illicit alcohol hub to a chess-loving community, with 75% of its population actively playing chess.
- Chess teaches resilience, strategic thinking, and delayed gratification, skills that benefit players beyond the board, as highlighted by coach N. Krithika.
- Blind chess champion Rajesh Oza teaches students to visualize chess mentally, demonstrating the game’s inclusivity and cognitive benefits.
- Chess provides a level playing field for players like P Prema, who enjoys the game’s focus on strategy over physical ability.