For the first one you could detail the needs of a champion chess
player - coaching; books and computer software and hardware, travel to tournaments and what that entails, sacrifices that players and parents have to make, financial needs and how they could be met - by public and private sponsorship.
Ivana has put Goa on world map in Chess. She could be the only Indian to achieve such a feet. There are many more talent in Goa, if nourished at right age could achieve highest height in Chess. I certainly know a name Saish Mahale from Aldona, who has come third in our Taleigao Chess Academy’s under 8 chess tournament held on July 22/23 at Magnum Chambers, last year. If nourished properly he has a bright future but not seen now a days in chess tournament.
To keep pace with his growth in the chess game for a child identified as having talent in chess, parents has to provide regular chess coaching of 10 hours a week from an expert, subscription for chess magazines, computer and chess software, regular participation in chess tournament (once a month at least) at Goa level and 2 or 3 at national level. The way Chess has brought glory to Goa it is a time that Goa Government should provide special budgeted provision for Chess.
But for Ivana and Bhakti it’s a special case. To keep on upgrade their skills, both of them require regular chess coaching of a Grandmaster. They will also have to make at least two foreign trips and few trips with in India along with their coach. And for Ivana her parents also till she reaches 14. Government (Central or State) as per their current policy/practice will not spend anything more than partly payment of few days chess coaching of a Grandmaster and may be Airfare of Ivana for foreign trip. (As also current bureaucratic norms say that parents should make arrangements for these expenses and it may be reimbursed at the whims of a bureaucracy.)
Government should be active, should come forward of its own to provide all the facilities required to keep high standard of their game. Government should not be reactive to do some think only after achieving some glory.
To keep Ivana and Bhakti (to remain in horizon) Goa's chess flag flying high, not only Goa government but well wishers, Goan Industrialist, Corporate Houses, Hoteliers etc. should come forward to sponsor their coaches, internal and foreign tours, We should encourage these girls to fly overseas regularly to play chess. GSCA President Mr. Sameer Salgaocar has taken many good steps in this regard. But few more should come forward to keep the pace of talents like Anurag Mhamal, Cyrus Perira, Niraj & Nandini Saripally, Harikrishnan M, Riya Sawant, Gauri Hadkonkar identified to be nourished. There tour should be provisioned well in advance, just like for a Minister of a Goa Government. These kids will bring more glory by making a foreign tour than "Whole bunch of Minister of Goa all together".
Goa State Chess Association should also encourage organizers to organize classical version chess tournament. Aim should be to encourage talented children play at least 10 classical games in a month. Round Robin tournament of 6 to 8 good players on weekdays in the evening may be held in a small room.
Taleigoa Chess Academy will continue its role of organizing chess tournaments for children, organizing regular coaching camps of O.T. Anilkumar and others IM’s, GM’s etc.
How to generate talent in chess by making it a compulsory part of the syllabus.
Why chess should be taught in schools - Any education that makes the child think is the best education. Basic nature of Chess is that it makes you think; think in orderly manner to find a logical conclusion. Chess helps to develop thinking process in a child.
Chess player concentrates on a position, thinks deep on various variation, options at his disposal and decides to act. He brings lot of intellect, his mental energy in to act. Chess gives very good exercise to the brain. It's a learning tool. Every child should do this exercise regularly. One or two long chess games in a week are sufficient for a brainy child to keep up with his good work in his own field. But for a good chess player, he must spend at least four hours a day in learning and mastering chess technique.
How to get the teachers –
Primary School teacher is not an mathematician but she teaches maths. She introduces numbers and their values to the child and also teaches addition and subtraction.
To keep the pace, tempo and hype that has generated among children due to back to back world cup chess championship by Ivana Goa State Chess Association should encourage chess players to educate chess to young mind in primary school. It can enlighten chess players who score 5 points or more in a 9 round open chess tournament that they can teach basic of chess to young mind. It can issue certificates to these players and institutions and school can hire them to teach chess.
A player who has played in All Goa Open Selection Chess tournament and scored 5 points can reasonable considered as well versed with game of chess and if he can convey his knowledge of chess to children Goa State Chess Association should encourage such
player to teach children. It's a need of time that Goa State Chess Association provide chess tutor to institution before the enthusiasm of this game vanishes in blue.
In the mean time chess camp for for primary school teachers, Kindergarten teachers, balwadi sevikas can be initiated with the help of exiting coaches and Education and Sports Department. A camp of a week will be enough to enlighten basic of chess. There are books like Chess Course by International Arbitor Praful Zaveri available in the market.
If a I standard student learns phase 1 given below, he can reasonably play in a children’s chess tournament. A talented child of age 7, with his inner enthusiasm will learn phase II and further with in four months if opportunities are made available to him. It is sufficient exercise for a IV standard student if he learns up to phase II given below and plays one or two time in a week and takes part in occasional chess tournament two three times in a year.
Phase 1
Knowing the Chess Board and Chessman;
How a particular piece Move;
How to write the game and read the game
What is Checkmate.
Phase II
Values of a piece
Exchange of piece, When to exchange?
What is En pasent and Castle rule
What is opening, mid game and end game
What is mean my Pin, Fork, double attack etc
Mate with Queen or with Rook.
Chess environment should be nourished in a society. Local chess tournament of a housing society, wado, panchayat should be promoted. It takes few hours to organize children chess tournament. A class room chess tournament just like held in Sharada Mandir, Miramar should encouraged in every primary school. Chess has a strength to bring peace in society. It’s a cool game to be played with cool mind.
