The national level schools’ chess initiative witnesses participation from over
4,300 schools/75000 students
Chennai, December 12, 2006: The Annual National Chess
Master 2006, a unique initiative of NIIT and NIIT MindChampion & Grand
Master Viswanathan Anand (Vishy), culminated into a grand finale at the Russian
Center of Science and Culture here today. Chess Champion Vishy Anand made a
special appearance at the event along with his wife Aruna, and announced the
winners of this joint initiative which is popularly running in nearly 4,300
schools in the country, exposing students in the age group of 6-17 years to the
world of Chess.
The winners not only received recognition from Vishy, for their skills in
the Mind Game but also felt honoured on having being chosen to play a few moves
of simultaneous Chess against the Grand Master.
The grand finale of Chess Master 2006 saw 18 different winners from 5
different categories across North, East, West and South vying for the National
Level Honour of Chess Master in sub junior, junior and senior categories. Nearly
75000 students from 4,300 government and private schools participated in this
event. NIIT conducts computer education and computer assisted education training
programmes in these schools.
Also present on the occasion were Mr. P.R. Venketarama Raju, Vice Chairman,
RAMCO Systems and President of Tamil Nadu Chess Association and Mr. Stanislav I.
Simakov, Director, Russian Centre of Science & Culture amongst a host of
other senior dignitaries from Academia and Industry to motivate the young mind
champions on path of excellence.
NIIT MindChampion, Vishy Anand expressed his happiness on the fact that
‘Chess’ is now coming out of the closet and young enthusiasts of the game are
looking at it seriously.
Addressing the gathering of participants Vishy said, “Academics
just like the game of Chess is a mind game that requires concentration and
in-depth understanding of the subject. As good players of this game, I am
confident that if you apply the principles of playing the game of Chess in your
academic pursuit, you are going to emerge as winners and flag bearers of
excellence.”
Speaking on the occasion Mr. L. Balasubramanian, President, NIIT K-12 said,
“The NIIT MindChampions Academy's National School Chess event is aimed
at initiating young minds to excel in academics as well as sports. We are happy
to partner with Vishy, the Grand Master himself, and are hopeful that this joint
initiative will touch many more heights of success in the years to come.”
NIIT MindChampion Viswanathan Anand played the Mind Game with national
winners, from the sub junior, junior and senior category.
Launched with the objective of initiating students into the world of Chess,
NIIT MindChampions Academy has fostered nearly 4,300 clubs with more than 75,000
students as its members in schools where NIIT offers computer education. The
students use computer-based tutorials, during and after school as a virtual
playfield to hone their skills in the game of Chess. Apart from tutorials,
promising Chess players get an opportunity to interact with NIIT Brand
Ambassador and Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, in person at regular intervals.
Leveraging its inherent strength in technology, NIIT MindChampions Academy
has created a virtual community of Chess enthusiasts in the country. The Academy
has Viswanathan Anand, NIIT Group Chairman Rajendra S. Pawar and President of
NIIT K12 L. Balasubramanian and few eminent world Chess personalities on its
Advisory Board.
About NIIT K-12
NIIT through its K-12 division is reaching 1.4 million kids in nearly 4300
government and private schools, equipping them with crucial IT skills to prepare
them for tomorrow’s knowledge society. NIIT is working actively to make
computers an intrinsic part of the lives of children and also those of the
socially and economically challenged sections of the society, who may never have
had a chance to integrate with the emerging 21st century environment, to give a
better prospect to their future. NIIT has been providing computer and
computer-aided education in State Govt. schools in
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam,
Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura and Noida (UP) and private schools all
across the country.
About NIIT
NIIT, Asia’s largest IT trainer, offers learning and knowledge solutions in
30 countries. Leading IT magazine Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT, the
Top IT Training Company Award 2006.
Rated among India's Superbrands (2003-05), NIIT’s education offerings
include: GNIIT, an industry-endorsed programme for students seeking careers in
the IT segments; NIIT Edgeineers, training programmes on advanced technologies
for IT professionals and skill up gradation programmes for engineering
graduates.
In the Corporate Solutions Business, NIIT’s offerings are bolstered by its
SEI CMM Level5 assessed learning services capability. The Corporate Solutions
Business offers integrated learning solutions that include strategic consulting,
learning design, content development, learning delivery, learning technology
services and learning administration. NIIT’s customers include many Fortune 500
companies, universities, technology companies, training corporations and
publishing houses.
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