Viswanathan Anand trains students in chess workshop at Velammal Global School

‘Chess is like learning a new language. One needs to keep practising regularly and adapt to the changes’ says five time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand at the inauguration of the chess workshop at the Velammal Global School in Madurai on Thursday.

From a time when parents were hesitant to send their children to participate in sports considering the study time, they were now supporting their children and permitting them to participate in sports, he said, adding, it makes a huge difference when you know that you have the family support and the backing of the institution. You could do better.

He said the Velammal Trust was a beacon of support and that was why Velammal educational institutions had produced 23 Grand Masters and many youth champions till now, he said.

The main objective of the event was to develop proteges and take the sport to more places in the State. The Chess Masterclass will show that it is about learning. Studying games and learning from the patterns. Play the game, compare and learn. This is how you improve, he said.

He told the students to have fun and learn the game. He appreciated the vision of the educational institution and hoped that the institution produces more Grand Masters in future.

Chairman M.V. Muthuramalingam said sports played a vital role in the overall development of the students. Sports and education go hand in hand and equal importance should be given to studies and sports, he said.

He also urged the parents to allow their children to participate in sports, take their children to sports events. Parents should take the responsibility. They should let the children play and the children should have full focus on the game, he said.

‘Lightning Kid’, book authored by Mr. Anand was presented to Mr. Muthuramalingam. International Masters V. Saravanan and Natarajan and others were present at the event.