{"id":147643,"date":"2026-01-14T23:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T17:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/indusvalleytimes.com\/news\/?p=147643"},"modified":"2026-01-14T23:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T17:38:13","slug":"four-hours-of-chess-a-week-sharpens-young-minds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indusvalleytimes.com\/news\/four-hours-of-chess-a-week-sharpens-young-minds\/","title":{"rendered":"Four hours of chess a week sharpens young minds: Anand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"caps\"><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Global chess leaders hail the game as a tool for education, inclusion and social change as \u2018Chess Mahakumbh\u2019 opens at KIIT<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By Nalini Sahu<\/strong><br><strong>Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14:<\/strong> Playing chess for just four hours a week can significantly sharpen young minds, helping students organise their thoughts and improve academic performance, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand said here on Wednesday, underscoring the game\u2019s growing relevance beyond competitive sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Inaugurating the International Conference on Social and Educational Chess\u2014aptly titled Chess Mahakumbh\u2014at KIIT University, Anand described chess as a powerful, low-cost learning tool with wide social applicability. \u201cChess promotes structured thinking,\u201d he told mediapersons, dispelling the long-held notion of the game as a pursuit of elites. \u201cIt is no longer a \u2018royal game\u2019; it is increasingly a game of the masses.\u201d<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anand noted that students who play chess regularly often show improved academic outcomes, particularly in areas requiring logic, concentration and decision-making. While acknowledging that chess has traditionally been urban-centric, he said technology\u2014especially smartphones and online platforms\u2014has enabled its spread to rural and remote areas. \u201cWith organised efforts and statewide tournaments, chess can be taken to the grassroots,\u201d he said, pointing to innovative initiatives that use the game for social development, including in correctional institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich highlighted chess\u2019s role in nurturing cognitive abilities and life skills that are difficult to cultivate through conventional disciplines. \u201cChess is a powerful instrument for building knowledge, character and personal growth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">FIDE Deputy Chair Dana Reizniece stressed that the aim of chess education was not merely to produce future grandmasters. \u201cThe goal is to help children become champions of their own lives,\u201d she said, adding that chess supports early learning in logic, mathematics and language skills. Citing a 2021 global survey, she said more than 25 million children worldwide are engaged in chess-based education and called for doubling that number. She also proposed the development of a university-level academic programme centred on chess, with KIIT playing a leading role.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Terming the event historic, KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta said this was the first time Odisha was hosting such a high-profile global chess conclave. He highlighted chess\u2019s ability to transcend social barriers, noting that thousands of tribal students at KISS actively play the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three-day conference, being held from January 14 to 16 with the support of FIDE and the All India Chess Federation, has attracted eminent chess personalities from over 40 countries and more than 5,200 participants. The inaugural day also witnessed the launch of the International Chess Hall and the Viswanathan Anand Chess Academy at KIIT, reinforcing the institution\u2019s commitment to promoting chess from the grassroots to the global stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Global chess leaders hail the game as a tool for education, inclusion and social change as \u2018Chess Mahakumbh\u2019 opens at KIIT By Nalini SahuBhubaneswar, Jan. 14: Playing chess for just<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-top-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Four hours of chess a week sharpens young minds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Four hours of chess a week sharpens young minds Four hours of chess a week sharpens young minds\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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