- Priya Soni from Kawardha and
Manan Shah from Mumbai Adjudged as Winners
- Over 4.5 Lakh Students
Across India Compete for the Coveted Chess Master 2009 Title
- Online Survey Highlights the
Positive Impact of Chess on Academics
Raipur, December 18, 2009: The West Zone Finals of NIIT
MindChampions Academy (MCA)-Chess Master 2009, were held in Raipur today.
Priya Soni from Government Higher Secondary School, Kawardha and
Manan Shah from SVDD School, Mumbai were adjudged as the winners of
West Zone Finals of NIIT MindChampions Academy - Chess Master 2009.
NIIT MindChampions Academy is a joint initiative by NIIT, a leading Global
Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT Trainer, and World Chess
Champion Viswanathan Anand to initiate young minds into the World of Chess.
This year NIIT MindChampions Academy has witnessed participation of over
4.5 lakh students from across the country for Chess Master 2009. There have been
6282 clubs actively playing chess since April 2009 to compete for the Chess
Master 2009 title. The aim has been to go green this year and the complete
implementation, monitoring, playing has been done electronically under the
supervision of faculties from NIIT.
In response to an online survey conducted by MCA this year, over 8000
children have mentioned that Chess has helped them perform better in academics,
especially in Science and Mathematics. The game developed their patience and
understanding, motivating children to take up Chess before school hours or
during the breaks.
The West Zone level contest witnessed widespread participation by nearly
1.10 lakh students from over 1400 Government and Private Schools.
Commenting on the success of NIIT MindChampions Academy, Viswanathan Anand
remarked, “It is heartening to note that more and more young children are taking
up Chess enthusiastically and mastering the strategies of the game. I am
confident that the grit and determination that these young children display at
the game will help them excel in academics as well.”
“I am delighted to see that NIIT MindChampions Academy has touched a huge
number of children across the country and initiated them into the game of Chess.
Technology has also played a key role in reaching out to children in every
corner of the country for introducing them to Chess.”
According to Tarun Govind Mathur, Head- Operations, School Learning
Solutions, NIIT Ltd., “Chess is a mind game that improves academic performance
and aids in mental development of young children. Over the years the NIIT
MindChampions Academy has been popularizing Chess in Schools across
India.”
The winners of the West Zone Finals of NIIT MindChampions Academy- Chess
Master 2009, Priya Soni and Manan Shah will represent the West Zone at the
National Finals. They will also get an opportunity to play Chess with the Chess
Champion, Viswanathan Anand. The National winner will be felicitated by the
World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand at a mega event for National Finals in
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on December24,2009.
Launched in 2002 with an objective of initiating students into the world of
Chess, NIIT MindChampions Academy has commenced a movement that has now touched
more than 8.5 lakh students from over 7000 schools across India. World Chess
Champion Vishwanathan Anand has personally travelled to Agartala, Guwahati,
Raipur, Patna, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and other cities across
India, spreading the message and motivating the school students to start playing
chess. NIIT MindChampions Academy conducts an Annual Chess event, known as Chess
Master for these school children across 16 states in the NIIT network.
About NIIT
NIIT Limited, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s
largest IT trainer, offers learning and knowledge solutions to over 5 million
students across 40 countries.
Leading IT magazine Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT, the ‘Top IT Training
Company’ award successively for the past 17 years, since the inception of this
category. Rated among India’s Business Superbrands 2008, NIIT’s Individual
Learning Business offerings include industry-endorsed programs for students
seeking careers in IT - GNIIT, Edgeineers and Global
Net Plus for IT professionals.
NIIT has provided computer-based learning to over 12,000 government and
private schools. The futuristic NIIT eGURU range for schools is a holistic
education package that comprises of Interactive Classrooms (an
embedded Teaching Learning Material, that uses elements of interactivity,
automation and web links library); Math lab (technology tools
that enable school students to learn and explore mathematical concepts);
IT Wizard (equips the students with core computer knowledge and
IT skills); and Quick School (an Education Resource Planning
solution for school management).
For working professionals, NIIT Imperia, Centre for
Advanced Learning, offers Executive Management Education Programs in association
with Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Indore, Kolkata,
Lucknow, IMT Ghaziabad and IIFT Delhi.
NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (IFBI),
formed by NIIT with equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers
programs for individuals and corporates in Banking, Financial Services and
Insurance.
NIIT Uniqua, Centre for Process Excellence, addresses the
increasing demand for skilled workers in the business and technology services
industry by providing training programs in relevant areas. This is a part of
NIIT Institute of Process Excellence, a NIIT-Genpact venture.
NIIT’s Corporate Learning Solutions, offers integrated
learning solutions (including strategic consulting, learning design, content
development, delivery, technology, assessment and learning management) to
Fortune 500 companies, Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations
and Publishing houses.
NIIT delivers a tailored combination of catalog learning
products, technology and services through Element K offerings. These include:
vLab®: hands-on labs, instructor-led courseware, comprehensive e-reference
libraries, technical journals, and KnowledgeHub™: hosted learning management
platform. This makes NIIT the first and the best choice for comprehensive
learning solutions, worldwide.
For media queries, please
contact:
Prateek Chatterjee
Head- Corporate Communications
NIIT
Ltd.
Email:
prateek.chatterjee@niit.comCell:
+91 9910201085