'NIIT Challenge the Champ’- Inter College Chess Tournament culminates with a grand finale

- World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand plays Simultaneous Chess with 50 finalists chosen from 50 Colleges across west Bengal

Kolkata, January 15, 2009: The Grand Finale of “NIIT Challenge the Champ”- Inter College Chess Competition was held in the city today. NIIT, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation organized this competition in association with Alekhine Chess Club – Kolkata. The event provided an opportunity to 50 finalists of the competition to play Simultaneous Chess with World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand.

The finalists were selected from over 50 colleges including 2 Universities across the State of West Bengal including areas such as - Coochbehar, Siliguri, Raigunj and Jongipur in North Bengal, Asansol, Durgapur, Kharagpur and Midnapur in South Bengal. Multiple colleges from every district had participated in the competition. Around 680 students participated in the ‘NIIT Challenge the Champ’ competition with the preliminary round being conducted in the respective colleges.

Mr. G Raghavan, President, Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT, invited the 50 finalists to take the 5th National IT Aptitude Test (NITAT), scheduled to be held across the country in over 180 cities on January 18, 2009. Considered as the country’s largest IT aptitude test, NITAT enables candidates to not only calibrate where they stand amongst the rest, but also allows them to gauge their areas of strength and potential improvement areas for a great career in IT.

While interacting with students, World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand said, “I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game of chess with these bright students. These youngsters have a lot of talent and I congratulate them of having reached so far. To be successful, it is important to recognize your aptitude and assess it at an early stage. I identified mine at the age of six when I began my association with Chess. NITAT helps you to identify your potential and aptitude for a career in the IT industry. By recognizing and using your strength, you have the benefit of excelling in your chosen field of profession.”

Congratulating the students on the occasion, Mr. G Raghavan, President, Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “Chess requires mental agility and right aptitude as an essential requirement for success. NIIT is proud to recognize these young students who have proved that they not only have a passion to excel in academics but also in the game of Chess.

Similarly, in today’s competitive world, only candidates, who have the right aptitude and passion to excel, will finally succeed. NITAT, country’s largest aptitude test helps students identify their potential and provides directional assistance to further hone their talents”, he added.

Talking of success and champions, there was a special felicitation ceremony by X-TRA Time, Sports Division of 24 Ghanta, to honour World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, India’s Olympic Shooting Champion Abhinav Bindra and Former Indian Cricket Captain Sourav Ganguly during the event. The media partners for this event were Zee Bangla, Big 92.7 FM, X-TRA Time and Sambad Pratidin.