Playing chess can make you clever; Unlike the notion that only smart can play chess. A group of players from Kerala’s International Chess, childhood friends, are removing myths about chess and help children find happiness in sports.
Eight times eight (8×8), a Kochi-based online Global Chess Academy that he established in 2021, so far more than 3,000 countries (including the US, UK and Canada), between the ages of five and 15 years between the ages of five to 15 years. Students have been trained.
Atul Krishna S, Adesh Joshi, Arijith M, Abhijith M, Manikandan and Chandra Raju met in the children’s chess tournaments in 2005 and have been friends since then.
The idea of starting a training stage began when a relative approached Adul with request during Kovid -19 (in 2020). “A relative asked me if I could teach his child chess because he was addicted to social media,” says.
This led to discussion among friends and started an online chess training program for children, while he was still in college in 2021. He was surprised by a positive response from his parents. Some parents also explained how lessons helped their children improve their attention and attention. “Especially in this era of online gaming and social media, parents feel that it is a great way to attach children to creatively,” says Edesh.
(From left) Atul Krishna, Adesh Joshi, Manu Manikandan, Abhjith M, Arijith M, and Chandra Raju. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He soon started learning more than 50 students and decided to formally form his efforts.
As of March 2022, the team raised the Artem Art of Consulting, an investment consultation firm (led by IIM graduate Shamin Sahar and Zubin Kabir) in the evaluation of 1.6 crores and raised 35 million-seed funding). While investors helped them structure their business for scaling, determining strategic goals, and improving operations, including defineing roles and responsibilities, a six -member team prepared the course that initial, intermediate And covered advanced levels. Eight times became a private limited company on 8 August 2022.
An early chess kit eight times eight. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
While Adesh, Arjith, Abhjith and Chandra are lawyers, Atul is an architect and Manu did his MSc in mathematics. However, they are now fully investing in the company.
“The idea is not only to mold chess players for the tournament, but also give them a real love for the game,” Edesh says. Chess facilitates overall development of a child. From improvement in memory to concentration and pattern recognition, it helps in overall personality development, he says.
Arijith, who started playing at the age of eight, says he has been traveling with chess for 18 years and is now able to train him. “India has earned a reputation in chess internationally. In the top 10 in the world, at least four are from India, ”says Arijith. Especially Grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggananandha, Gukesh Domraju and Arjun Erigasi, the interest between parents and children increases between learning and master chess, says Arijith.
An offline meat -up organized by the team in Kochi. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Eight times eight 45 Fids (International Chess Federation) operates with a team of rated trainers, offering groups and individual classes.
At the initial level, students are introduced to the game. “For young students, the rules of sports are placed as stories. This is a way of children to be interested in sports, ”says Adesh. In five to six months, the student will be encouraged to participate in the tournament. The academy will direct students to tournaments that are happening in their areas.
Many of his students have also won laurels. Advaita Shankar of Florida earned the title of National Master in USA, while Aranya R from Tamil Nadu became the National Under -7 Chess Champion in 2024.
Courses are not a time frame. “There is no end to learning, the more you learn, the better it becomes. There are students who have been with us for more than a year, ”says Edesh.
Eight times also provide individual classes for eight adults. “Chess has no age limit. The way it helps children, learning chess is also beneficial for adults, ”says Arijith.
Published – February 20, 2025 09:33 PM IST
