Jacob Aagaard makes a December to remember

by Shahid Ahmed - 31/01/2018

Award winning author and one of the best coaches in the world today, GM Jacob Aagaard visited Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy and had a five-day camp for a few selected chess players. We all know how much Jacob loves interacting with kids. He enjoyed his visit to DBCA last time earlier this year back in April, and he decided to visit the academy one more time. Only this time for a longer duration. Everyone benefited a lot by attending his sessions. This report is about what happened in those five days and how he captivated everyone's attention with his ever enchanting and inimitable persona. Photos and videos by: Shahid Ahmed and Saheli Dhar Barua.

Awesome Aagaard teaches everyone how to think

In this article, I will share a few things he made us all learn, study and think about. Since the content is huge, entire day will be covered with few games/positions as highlights.

Day 1

Decision making was the topic of Day 1. Highlight of the day was the beautiful game he showed which took place early in this year's FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2017 between Dutch numero uno Anish Giri and United Arab Emirates no.1 player Salem Saleh.

Day 2

White to play and win

Day 3

GM Jacob Aagaard arrives at Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy

One of the many Rook ending positions. It's White to play here. Give it a try.

Aagaard checks all students' attempts minutely

Debarshi Mukherjee and Sayan Bose manages to draw with Aagaard in a 5 minutes Blitz simultaneous match

Aagaard continues playing Blitz simultaneous matches with yours truly and Aniruddh Chatterjee | Video: Saheli Dhar Barua

Souhardo Basak drew from a fantastic position and Chandreyee Hajra became the only person to win in a series of simultaneous matches

Arpita Mukherjee, Sanchit Mukherjee and Pallabi Roy faces Aagaard in 5 minutes Blitz simul

A glimpse of how Jacob Aagaard takes his class

Aagaard with the students and their parents

Day 4

One of the first positions of the day, Black to Play

Jacob Aagaard plays simultaneous match with DBCA students

Day 5 - Aagaard visits The Heritage School

Aagaard visits one of the eminent school's of the country: The Heritage School

Jacob with the principal of the school, Ms. Seema Sapru

A basic lesson to the students of the school...

...and they listen eagerly

Aagaard plays a Blitz simul as the principal observes the proceedings

Never say No to take a photograph - that's Jacob's mantra!

A short clip of Jacob Aagaard playing simultaneous match with the students of The Heritage School

Lunch at Chowman restaurant where the food was delectable

Aagaard with Team DBCA along with few special group students

Final interview in Kolkata before he proceeded to Guwahati in Assam

A month after this tour, AICF announced that Jacob Aagaard will be the coach for Indian Women's Team! Jacob's saga with India continues and we couldn't be happier!