Latest news with #ChessThulir
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Rs 50,000 a month and countless sacrifices: How India's chess future shapes up in Chennai hut
GM Shyam's chess academy Pranav V and Srihari LR GM Shyam's chess academy Pranav V and Srihari LR GM Shyam's chess academy 1 2 NEW DELHI: "My father used to say that if wealth is lost, nothing is lost; if health is lost, something is lost; but if character is lost, everything is lost. So, I also want my students to be as genuine as possible," a proud coach in GM Shyam Sundar M recalls, just days after his 19-year-old protégé Srihari LR became India's 86th grandmaster by attaining his third GM norm at the Asian Individual Chess Championship in Al-Ain, UAE. Over the last few months, GM Shyam and his students have been making waves for all their over-the-board heroics. From Pranav V emerging as the FIDE Junior World Champion to Srihari becoming India's latest grandmaster and the elated coach claiming "there will be few more GMs in the coming months with God's grace", Shyam Sundar's Chennai-based academy, Chess Thulir , appears on a mission to produce a batch of elite prodigies. 'I've been coaching informally for nearly a decade now, but I felt it needed a name, and that's how Chess Thulir was born. 'Thulir' means blossom in Tamil, like how a flower blossoms,' Shyam tells from Sharjah. 'It started online during COVID-19 and gradually became a full-fledged offline academy.' Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Queensland: Slash Your Power Bills With a Battery Australian Solar Batteries Get Quote Undo Shyam's transition from player to coach wasn't sudden. 'Back in the 2018 Batumi Olympiad, I was already helping the Indian team. Even before that, I mentored many who couldn't afford professional guidance,' recalls the 32-year-old chess maestro. 'During 2016-2018, I realised financial constraints and lack of support held back many, and that's why even I couldn't become an elite-level grandmaster. That's when I felt the need for a proper academy where players could train professionally." A day at the academy The uniqueness of Shyam Sundar's coaching lies in its structured yet fluid approach, covering all aspects: opening theory, practical psychology, and even game-day opponent assessments. Sessions often begin at 10 a.m. and stretch to 5 p.m., including rigorous game analysis and situational problem-solving, with a one to one-and-a-half-hour break in between. Post-lunch, the team often heads outdoors, playing cricket or badminton: a routine that has built some commendable camaraderie within the group. 'Everyone's equal on the turf. Ratings don't matter there. We laugh, compete, and bond. That's a huge part of the academy's soul,' the coach adds. Most players training under Shyam are already above 2300 Elo, including several International Masters and Grandmasters. Camps are typically conducted once or twice a month. During camps, however, Shyam becomes a bit strict: "I usually conduct camps for specific rating brackets. Like, if I'm doing it for 2400+ players, I rarely include someone slightly below that, only if they show strong potential. Even if the camp isn't financially rewarding, I prioritise maintaining that high standard." More than a mentor Shyam's emotional investment in his students goes beyond the 64 squares as he adds, 'I consider most of my students like my own kids. That helps them open up, not just about chess, but about life too.' 'I want them to play active, dynamic chess. No playing for draws. I lead by example. Like, even when I play them, I push aggressively. They must see me practice what I preach.' However, the Gen-Z mindset, he admits, can get 'tricky'. 'With so much material online, they can get lost. My job is to channel that curiosity in the right direction, keep it structured and focused. Even after the camp ends, I continue mentoring them, tracking what they're studying daily, what kind of chess content they're consuming,' Shyam explains. "I'm really glad there's no unhealthy competition in my academy. The players are more like friends. They freely share opening files and knowledge without hesitation." Challenges in running an academy But nurturing champions doesn't come cheap. 'Running an academy is extremely stressful,' Shyam confesses. 'In Chennai, I spend around Rs 50,000 a month just for the basics, like rent, electricity, Wi-Fi. And if I'm travelling for 30-40 days with a player, the academy earns nothing during that period. It's a heavy toll. Sometimes, I feel like giving up.' There's also the growing pressure of expectations, with parents often demanding GM-only coaches for their kids, and trainers, tempted by better offers, slipping away. 'Sometimes I feel like downsizing, moving fully online, or just doing commentary or writing articles that would be far easier and financially rewarding.' A key factor in the academy's sustainable success, however, is Tamil Nadu's chess-friendly ecosystem. Many schools in Chennai offer academic leniency, granting extra holidays and understanding players' commitments, while also providing financial support to prodigies. "When Gukesh won the World Championship, he was gifted a car by his school," shares Shyam, who takes solace in his students' achievements despite the personal sacrifice of spending less time with his family. 'I miss time with my family, my daughter's four now, and I don't get to see her much. But I keep telling myself: to gain something, something must be given.' ALSO READ: RCB fan who became a world champion: The story of chess prodigy Pranav V | Exclusive What the future holds ... With his students achieving milestone after milestone, Shyam remains grounded in his method: 'In today's AI-driven world, we're flooded with computer-generated ideas and influenced by social media. Like they say, even a genius mind can make elementary mistakes. I try to convey the human way of thinking.' Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on how IPL gave him a lifeline & his tribute to Phil Hughes With a focus on creating more GMs, the coach signs off with humility and hope: 'My motto is simple: Be good. Do good. God will take care of the rest. These past few years have been tough, but maybe that's just God preparing me for something bigger. And if that 'something' means helping these kids become champions, in chess and in life, then it's all worth it.'
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Srihari LR becomes India's 86th Grandmaster
A full year after getting its 85 grandmaster, India got its 86th GM after 19-year-old Srihari LR got the coveted title when he played against GM Iniyan Paneerselvam at the Asian Individual Men's Chess Championship which is going on right now at Al-Ain. Before Srihari, India's last grandmaster was Shyaamnikhil P, who earned the top title in the sport on 12th May, 2024. Srihari, who unsurprisingly hails from the state of Tamil Nadu, is coached by grandmaster Shyam Sundar at the academy called Chess Thulir. Shyam Sundar has also coached the likes of Pranav V. 'Congratulations for becoming the latest GM after securing the final GM norm here in the Asian open, Al Ain. It took nearly a year to get the final norm. Glad it happened now and time to focus on the next bigger goal! 2nd IM to GM from my academy!' Shyam Sundar posted on Instagram. Coming into the Asian Individual Men's Chess Championship, Srihari had earned his two grandmaster norms — the first coming at the Qatar Masters in 2023, while the second one came at the Chennai GM Open event in 2024. He had also crossed the 2500 rating threshold in the published ratings last year itself in August 2024. All Srihari needed was to play the game against Iniyan Paneerselvam at Al-Ain for him to secure his third norm that confirms his ascendency to the GM title. At Al-Ain, Srihari has gone unbeaten in eight games while his ninth game against Iniyan is still going on. Remarkably, eight of his games at the event have come against grandmasters. He has beaten Indian grandmasters Abhijeet Gupta and Pranav V while holding other GMs like AR Saleh Salem (from UAE), China's Xu Xiangyu, Pranav Anand, Aleksey Grebnev (representing FIDE) and Pranesh M to draws.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Chess without stress: Mantra of GM Shyam's school
CHENNAI: In a city that's producing chess prodigies and record-breakers at a dizzying speed and with parents rushing to turn their children into the next Gukesh or Pragg, coach Shyam Sundar, a Grandmaster is choosing a quieter revolution. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rather than bowing to the pressure of creating champions, the Chennai coach has built his academy – Chess Thulir (meaning 'a young leaf') – as a space where young players can learn to love the game without the weight of expectations. And, in an era where chess can be learned and played from anywhere, thanks to the convenience of online platforms, Shyam saw the importance of offering something more. 'I've been training a lot of students online for over a decade, but it was during the pandemic (2021 to be precise) that I realised the true need for offline training,' Shyam told TOI. With the rise of AI and digital technology, chess is becoming more of a computer-based sport, and Shyam understood the toll it was taking. 'Players rarely even step outside or go out in the sun anymore. And some of the kids are either pampered or kept in a strictly controlled environment. When they come to the academy, I want them to be completely free from any stress. 'Seven hours (10am to 5pm) are dedicated to chess, but after that, we play cricket or badminton for two hours. More often, they look forward to the second half of the day. It's a chance for them to enjoy a game without pressure. What's hurting to see is that some kids, due to parental pressure and fierce competition, don't even talk to each other. That's not the case at my academy, I want my players to have the helping mentality and bond well. Chess should be fun, not a race to break records,' said Shyam, who was the coach of the Indian team at the 2023 FIDE World Cup. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Building an academy in Chennai which is a home to some of the best-established training institutions in the country was never going to be easy. And the challenges didn't end with physical and logistical hurdles; Shyam also had to navigate a landscape filled with competition, misleading promises, and difficult dynamics. 'At times, some of my students couldn't even mention my name as their trainer due to various factors. This kept happening every now and then. They could be training with other coaches…I really have no idea. Also, a few people had come forward to sponsor the academy and some students here, but it hasn't materialised till now. It's painful,' said Shyam, who is currently training over 50 students at his academy in Perambur. The fruits of Shyam's dedication are slowly starting to show as his students edge closer to elite status. Last week, S Aswath earned his maiden GM norm at the Grenke Open, while M Anees became an IM (International Master) at the same event. In March, V Pranav, whom Shyam has been training for the past 18 months, was crowned World Junior Champion. It's not just local talent either; players from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Kashmir, including the region's only IM, Soham, have come to Chennai to train under him. 'It is tough, but you learn to keep going, especially when you see your students succeed. I have a larger goal, and because of it, I'm accepting these kinds of setbacks and focusing on the bigger picture. We have world-class level players and it will show. Because of some negative incidents, I can't let my good ones be overshadowed,' said the 32-year-old coach.
