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If there are some places in the world which are known for producing exceptional talents that make a remarkable impact on the world, Tamil Nadu, located in the southern India, must be one of such places. Because it stands out as a chess GMs production house. Tamil Nadu is a state that has a remarkable record of making highest number of GMs than any other state of India. This record creates an important question, what makes Tamil Nadu so special? 

In my this blog, I'm going to answer this question by writing about the rich chess culture of Tamil Nadu in more detail. I'm going to write about the historical belief of chess in the state, some great chess players from Tamil Nadu. I'll also discuss the brilliant moves which are played by Velammal Vidyalaya in developing chess talents.

• • Historical Perspective
  • Chess Players From Tamil Nadu
    • Manuel Aaron, First International Master From India
    • Viswanathan Anand, First Grandmaster From India
    • Subbaraman Vijaylakshmi, First Women Grandmaster From India
    • Koneru Humpy, Top-ranked Female Chess Player of India
    • R Praggnanandhaa, Youngest Finalist of FIDE World Cup History
    • Gukesh D, Top-ranked Male Chess Player of India
  • Reason Behind Calling Tamil Nadu "The Grandmaster Factory of India"
  • Tamil Nadu State Chess Association
  • Chess in Education System
  • Velammal Vidyalaya
  • Conclusion 

Historical Perspective

There are some beliefs that chess, known as ‘Sathurangam’ in Tamil language, could have originated in the Tamil lands before spreading to other parts of the world. The ancient Sathuranga Vallabhanathar temple, located at Tiruvarur in southern Tamil Nadu, is standing as a proof of the game’s local provenance. The name of the presiding deity, Sathuranga Vallabhanathar, means one who is an expert chess player.

According to the some legends, Lord Shiva earned the name ''Sathuranga Vallabhanathar" by earning a victory in a game of chess against the daughter of a local king. The princess, known as Rajarajeswari, was believed to be an embodiment of Goddess Parvathi. As the princess was a genius chess player, the king (her father) had proclaimed that whoever could defeat his daughter in a game of chess would earn her hand for marriage. Since no one could able to defeat her (the princess) in the game, the king became anxious and turned to Lord Shiva in prayer. Lord Shiva appeared as an old man. He accepted the challenge and defeated Rajarajeswari in the game. Afterwards, he revealed his true identity and married the princess. 

The temple documents that chess had been played in Tamil Nadu even 1,500 years ago. Chess in its early forms had originated in India and travelled to Europe, though it had undergone some minor changes.

— Thiruvadikudil Swamigal, founder of Jothimalai Iraipani Thirukoottam

Chess Players From Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu produced many incredible chess players who made their major contributions to the game's development in India. Some of them are,

Manuel Aaron, First International Master From India

Manuel Aaron (born 30 December 1935) is an Indian chess master in the second half of the 20th century. He dominated chess in India in the time period of 1960s to the 1980s. In 1961, he became India's first International Master by winning the West Asian Zonal and the Asian-Australian Zonal final. He was also the National Champion of India nine times between 1959 and 1981. 

In addition to his competitive achievements, Aaron also played a major role in promoting chess in India. He is one of the key figures in introducing international chess practices to India. He was a founding member of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), and served as its secretary for many years. 

Viswanathan Anand, First Grandmaster From India

Viswanathan Anand (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster and a former five-time World Chess Champion. He became the first grandmaster from India in the year 1988, and has the eighth highest peak FIDE rating of all-time. In 2022, he was elected as the deputy president of FIDE.

Some of his remarkable achievements:

• He became the first and only Indian to win the World Chess Championship ( 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012)
• He became eight-time World Rapid Champion ( 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2017)
• He received Padma Vibhushan (India's second highest civilian honor)
• He received Padma Bhushan (India's third highest civilian honor)
• In 1985, he received the Arjuna Award for Chess 

Subbaraman Vijaylakshmi, First Women Grandmaster From India

Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (born 25 March 1979) is an Indian chess player who holds the FIDE titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). She became the first female player in India to achieve these titles.

Koneru Humpy, Top-ranked Female Chess Player of India 

Koneru Humpy (born 31 March 1987) is an Indian chess player best known for winning the FIDE Women's rapid chess championship in 2019. In 2002, she became the youngest woman ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster (GM) at the age of 15 years, 1 month, 27 days, beating Judit Polgar's previous record by three months (this record was subsequently broken by Hou Yifan in 2008). In October 2007, she became the second female player, after Judit Polgar, to exceed the 2600 elo rating mark.

Some of her remarkable achievements:

• She became first woman from India to win the World Junior Chess Championship
• She won the Indian National Junior Chess Championship in 1999
• She won the World Youth Chess Championship in 2001
• Currently the top-ranked female chess player of India

R Praggnanandhaa, Youngest Finalist of FIDE World Cup Ever

Praggnanandhaa is an Indian chess Grandmaster(GM). He became the youngest International Master (IM) at the age of 10 and a Grandmaster (GM) at the age of 12, the second-youngest at that time to do so.

Some of his remarkable achievements:

• In 2016, Praggnanandhaa became the youngest international master in history at the age of 10 years and 10 months.
• In 2018, he then became the second-youngest Grandmaster in history at the age of 12 years and 10 months.
• He received the Arjuna Award from President Draupadi Murmu at the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2022 ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• In 2023, he become the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to make it to the final of FIDE World Cup. 

Gukesh D, Top-ranked Male Chess Player of India

Dommaraju Gukesh (born 29 May 2006), commonly known as Gukesh D, is a 17-year-old Indian chess grandmaster. In March 2019, he became the third-youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess.

Some of his remarkable achievements:

• In 2017, he became the youngest Indian player to win the National Under-19 Championship.
• He also won the World Under-12 Championship in 2015 and the World Under-18 Championship in 2018.
  
• Youngest player to reach a elo rating of 2750+
• Currently the top-ranked male chess player of India 

Their achievements of these chess players not only brought international recognition to Tamil Nadu but also inspired the next generations.

Reason Behind Calling Tamil Nadu "The Grandmaster Factory of India"

Since 1961, when Manuel Aaron became the first International Master (IM) from India who grew up in Tamil Nadu and In 1988, Viswanathan Anand became the first Grandmaster (GM) from India, followed by Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, the first Indian to achieve the title of Woman Grandmaster in the year 2001, Chennai has been a factory of Grandmasters.

From having one Grandmaster in 1988, India just increased its Grandmaster count in past few decades. The recent years have seen a bunch of talented youngsters attaining their Grandmaster title in Chess, especially from Tamil Nadu. According to the FIDE, there are 83 Grandmasters, 18 Woman Grandmasters from India. Out of the Indian Grandmasters, Tamil Nadu roughly shares nearly 35 per cent of the total Grandmasters in India. This is the main reason for calling Tamil Nadu "The Grandmaster Factory of India".

Tamil Nadu State Chess Association

The Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) is the highest regulatory body for the game of chess in Tamil Nadu, India. The association was earlier known as Madras Chess Club. It is affiliated with the All India Chess Federation. It was formed on 26 April 1947 at Chennapuri Andhra Maha Sabha Chennai with a intention to identify the  upcoming chess players and make them into world-class professionals.

To provide maximum benefits for chess enthusiasts throughout the state, the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) collaborates and coordinates with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu and the All India Chess Federation. 

The Tamil Nadu State Chess Association is renowned for the production of some exceptional chess players. Among them, the most exceptional and talented chess player to date is undoubtedly the legendary Viswanathan Anand. If Anand is considered a monument among chess professionals, TNSCA can be proudly regarded as the architect behind his success. In the future, TNSCA is expected to continue presenting the world with more extraordinary chess players from Tamil Nadu.

Chess in Education System

Tamil Nadu's rise as a chess capital is not just due to talents like Manual Aaron and Viswanathan Anand. it is also closely connected to how chess has been incorporated into the state's educational system. Tamil Nadu's schools and the government have always been aware of the numerous educational and developmental advantages of chess. It goes beyond being just a game in Tamil Nadu.

In 2011, former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa took a decision of making chess as extracurricular activities in schools. In 2013, when Chennai hosted the World Chess Championship between Anand and Carlsen; the chief minister launched a "Seven to Seventeen program". In this program each school will coach students from 7 to 17 age group to play chess.

The Tamil Nadu government offers chess coaching by best coaches and grandmasters through offline and online classes for students, especially those in government schools in every district.

Velammal Vidyalaya

There is one institution that has stood out is Velammal Vidyalaya. This educational institution in Chennai has not only excelled in academic education but has also made an incredible job in making chess talents.

At Velammal Vidyalaya, every year more than 1000 school students join for chess coaching per year. This educational institution do a great thing for the students. They reduce the pressure of studies for the students who have a lot of interest in chess. In this institution, talented students are allowed to focus on chess and to participate as many tournaments as possible. They have the choice to give the exams at a later date. Every week, the institutions provide three chess sessions for the students during school hours overseen by chess coaches from outside. The institute also provides financial helps to talented students. 

• • GM Karthikeyan Murali was offered free education at Velammal International School, Panchetti for two years after which he transferred to Velammal Matriculation in Mogappair where he studied from grades eight to twelve. 
•  
  • GM Aravindh Chithambaram was a student of Velammal Matriculation in Mogappair where he studied from the ninth to twelfth grades. The school supported him with plane tickets, free education and a flexible attendance schedule so that he could focus on becoming a better player. When he finally became a grandmaster, GM Viswanathan Anand, was invited by the school to felicitate Aravindh.
•  
  • GM Gukesh D was awarded  cash prize when he became an International Master. The school arranged a grand reception at Chennai airport and press meet when he became the second youngest GM ever. 
•  
  • GM R Praggnanandhaa was also provided some facilities like flight tickets, cash prizes so that he can able to participate in tournaments.

A separate chess wing is set up for players with the top 20- 30 getting coaches by the best. The institute is also taking a next step by setting up a club where anyone can come and play chess. Reading materials will also be available there. 

Some chess GMs to come out of the school include B Adhiban, SP Sethuraman, K Priyadharshan, NR Visakh, Leon Mendonca, Vishnu Prasanna, Shyam Sundar, Karthikeyan Murali, Aravindh Chithambaram, Karthik Venkataraman, NR Vignesh, V Pranav, Bharath Subramaniyam, Arjun Kalyan, R Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh D, Karthikeyan P, Narayan Srinath, Varshini S, Vaishali R, Rakshita R, Savitha Shri B.

Conclusion

I want to conclude the blog by saying that Tamil Nadu has a very rich culture in chess. The game is enjoyed by people from every ages and backgrounds. Due to the hardwork of Tamil Nadu government and institutions like Velammal, Tamil Nadu becomes a paradise for chess players.

I hope you enjoyed my this blog. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to leave a comment below. Share this blog with your friends.

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