Cholamandalam launches initiative to nurture young chess talent

Chennai, Jul 13 (PTI) The city-based Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company has launched 'Chola Chess', an initiative to nurture young chess talent.
    Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd is the financial services division of the diversified business conglomerate Murugappa Group.
    This program aims to provide a structured platform for early-stage development, specifically addressing the needs of under-represented and financially constrained promising players at the grassroots level, thereby fostering a more equitable playing field.
    Chess Grandmaster RB Ramesh, leading the initiative, said, "The idea is to catch talent young and shape it with the best resources."
    A standout feature of the launch is that it would be a hybrid model which would ensure players from across the country, including those hailing from rural areas can get access high-quality mentorship regardless of their location.
    Unlike conventional coaching models, Chola Chess is envisioned as a comprehensive ecosystem not just focusing on game tactics, but also on long-term growth, performance analytics and tournament preparedness, he said.
    "With Chola Chess, we are building an ecosystem where discipline, resilience and strategic thinking are nurtured from a young age," Ramesh, who is also the Head Coach, said.
    The programme has been launched in association with Chess Gurukul and the training is provided through exclusive 5-7 day camps. Each camp would combine world-class coaching, physical fitness, mental strength training, communication and nutritional guidance.
    On the launch, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Executive Chairman Vellayan Subbiah said, "India is currently witnessing an unprecedented wave of chess enthusiasm, with young prodigies achieving global recognition. However, access to high-quality, structured training remains elusive."


    Starting with world-class coaching, Chola Chess is an endeavour to build discipline, strength of character, strategic thinking and mental resilience to further India's dominance in the game, he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)