Sir,
All Goa Under Seven Chess Tournament
&
An Exhibition of Chess posters
at Odlem Bhat, Taligaon on Monday 22nd May 2006.
Chess is an Indian game. Numerous studies have
demonstrated a link between chess playing and
improvements in educational performance. From
visualisation and strategic thinking skills through to
enhanced memory and concentration, the benefits of
chess playing may be vast. It is surprising to find
then that children who play chess are able to process
complex cognitive tasks as well as most adults, with
data indicating that young children utilise
higher-order thinking skills, analyse actions and
consequences, and visualise future possibilities when
playing chess. Therefore every time they play a game
of chess, these skills are practiced and improved.
Chess has been shown to increase: Spatial awareness,
Numerical abilities, Verbal aptitude, Learning,
Problem solving skills, Reading levels, Concentration
and self-discipline, Socialisation skills, Ability to
overcome the fear of risk-taking.
In developed countries CHESS is a medium to educate
child. It is thought as subject at primary level
school. Chess promotional activities are financed
through sports bill as well as education bill. For
this reasons even small populous countries like
Holland, Israel, Ukraine etc. has many times more
chess masters than India.
Only few miniscule percentage of parents from Goa take
efforts to teach their child about Chess; of these
only few make their child aware about chess at right
time. Most children in Goa learn chess only when they
join secondary school.

As per experts in the field of Education, Chess should
be thought at pre-primary or primary level however
there are no chess activities in Goa for primary
student. Directorate of sports organises one school
team championship for under 14 & under 17 that is for
5th to10th Std. and under 19 for 11th & 12th Std.. Goa
State Chess Association every year organises different
age categories selection tournaments. These are under
7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 25. Bambolim Chess Club
also holds children chess festival for children below
13 years.

Every year in Goa around 16000 students answer SSC
examination. When we add 35% school dropout children
to these, there may be around 23000 children of around
seven years in Goa. However only 20 Children
participated in under seven selection tournament this
year. For same age category in Swimming, Gymnastic,
judo/karate etc participation level is around 50. All
these sports require more space and energy as also
finance. Chess requires fraction of these. This is
because no importance given to chess at pre-primary or
primary level.

Under Seven National Chess Championship will be held
at Don Bosco High School, Panjim in last week of
October 2006. Around 300 young children from all over
India will participate in this championship. Top
players among these will represent INDIA at World and
Asian Championship.

This could be a good opportunity to bring awareness of
chess among goan children. If parents take right
efforts in coming five months, they can make their
six/seven year child fit to participate in Under Seven
National Chess Championship. To get our goan children
good tournament experience there should be at least
one such tournament every month.

With all above things in mind we are organising one
‘All Goa Under Seven Chess Tournament’ on 22nd May
2006 at Shri Tulsimata Pandurang Temple Sabhagruh,
Odlem Bhat, Near Bank of India, Taligaon – Goa.

We expect around 30 children to participate in this
tournament. It will be held under Swiss league system.
Each participant will play 5 games. Will start at
9.30 am and may get over around 5.30 pm.

An exhibition of around 100 posters highlighting
importance given to chess by developed world will also
be held at the venue.

We request you and your family to remain present at
this occasion to encourage young chess players.




Taligaon Goa. Shrikant Vinayak Barve
Thursday May 12, 2006 (Promoter : Taligaon Chess
School)
(Mobile No.9326132702)