Chess stimulates memory, concentration

PATNA: World Chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Friday asked Bihar students to play chess since the game develops memory.

“It helps students develop sharp recognition capabilities and to remember lengthy variations with abilities to implement them,” Anand told TOI on the sidelines of a function at DAV Public School, BSEB, here.

“During the game you are focused on only one main goal — to checkmate the opponent and become the victor; thus, it improves your concentration levels too. Improved concentration helps students learn more and perform well academically,” the Indian chess Grandmaster, Anand, said.

He was in the city to inaugurate a state-of-the-art interactive classroom on DAV BSEB campus here. The 50-seat interactive classroom, designed as per the National Curriculum Framework-2005, has large projectors and high-tech audio systems to provide a holistic learning experience to students.

Launched by NIIT Limited, working on talent development, interactive classroom enhances teaching and learning through elements of interactivity, automation, customization, web-link library, and teaching learning plan.

Asked what lags chess talent in Bihar, Anand said: “There is a lack of interest in playing chess among youths. The situation will improve only when people take interest in the game and start playing chess.”

Though he refrained from providing a specific answer to whether he planned to groom chess talent at the national level through coaching or otherwise, Anand called upon youths to play chess: “Chess induces holistic mental development. It develops logical thinking, promotes imagination and creativity, and teaches independence as you are forced to make important but decisive decisions yourself.”

About Bihar’s turnaround, Anand, who last came to Bihar in December 2008, said the state had witnessed remarkable and vibrant development in the recent years.

“Now the leadership should be focused on ensuring that the growth momentum is maintained. It is only through improving education further that the momentum could be sustained. Involvement of students in chess will make education exciting and propel the state’s development,” Anand said.

Later, he played chess simultaneously with 10 youngsters from various parts of the country, including four from Bihar, at a separate function held here at Rabindra Bhavan.