What it really takes to chase a chess dream: A chess parent's perspective

A lockdown discovery!

It was April 2020, during the nationwide lockdown, when a small chessboard suddenly popped out from one of the boxes in my home. As we had nothing fruitful to do during the Lockdown, my wife searched for things that would take our 5-year-old son towards some creativity. She was searching for some drawing books for the Nursery levels. Instead, she found a tiny chessboard which otherwise would have been lost in negligence. But soon I realised that the world inside those 64 squares was much bigger.

We tried to draw my son's attention from the television set to the chessboard that his mother had brought a year ago, and which was left alone in one of the corners of our house. My wife and he started to arrange the chess pieces. At first, he could not set them properly, but by the third day, he surprised us by arranging every piece perfectly. Soon, he learned how every piece moved. While they played, I searched on the internet, "How to get better at chess?" The Internet was flooded with videos, courses, guides, books, etc, but I wanted something simple to start with. That’s when I found the “Computer Chess Game” software on my Windows laptop.

As a 90s kid, I grew up in a time when sports were mostly seen as hobbies rather than professions, no matter how passionate one was. Back then, society often believed, “Those who are not good at studies go into sports.” I remember, in 1995–96, when I took five wickets in one over during an inter-school tournament, it was still unthinkable to dream of playing for India. Sports were restricted to recreation and fitness.

So when my five-year-old son crossed Level-25 in the computer chess game, his mother felt he had found something truly creative. She was optimistic that with the right training, he could develop further. That is how our family’s journey into the fascinating world of chess began! A world we didn’t realize could be so demanding at times.

The first tournament

Soon after the “Unlock,” formal chess training began with a local coach. Within six months, my son was ready for his first local (unrated) tournament. I was amazed by the number of kids already playing chess in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Around 100 players participated, including seniors, and my son finished third. I even overheard a senior player telling his coach that my son’s calculations were accurate and strong.

This was the point when my role as a chess parent truly began. What had initially seemed like a ready-to-cook meal now looked more like a dish with ingredients scattered across the world. I had to gather them all and prepare them carefully.

The Making of a Player

I knew that in any sport, success demands hard work, practice, and discipline. But I soon realized that a strong chess player is not simply “born”; they are built over time. Talent and IQ may help, but creating a master requires much more: effort, compromises, rigorous training, passion, and above all, an investment of time and resources. Raising an International Master is not as simple as curdling milk with a few drops of lemon. It’s more like fitting an ocean into a jar. Imagine, then, what it takes to shape a Grandmaster out of an average player.

Chess in the Islands has grown significantly since the pandemic, but certain constraints remain: limited rated/unrated tournaments, few advanced coaches, high travel expenses due to geography, and the added challenge of balancing academics with chess. The cost of living makes advanced online coaching difficult for many. Yet, despite these hurdles, parents continue to encourage their children to pursue chess.

Learning from others

In 2022, I traveled with my son for the first time outside the Islands, to the National Schools Championship. There, I observed how players came with strong support systems: grandparents, parents, relatives, and even teams of coaches.

I met a grandparent from Haryana who passionately described the routine of a young chess player: seven to eight hours of practice beyond coaching, regular exercise, meditation, healthy diet, frequent tournaments, studying classics, analyzing one’s own games, building repertoires, and deep calculations. When he said, “It takes years to achieve mastery,” I realized how much goes into the making of a player. Parents from Bengal also mentioned how some children train with three or four coaches. It made me wonder how families manage this, not just financially but also mentally!

The coaching challenge

No matter how talented a player is, finding the right coach is essential. During and after the pandemic, opportunities for coaches grew, with both online and offline training available. For some parents, this was a blessing; for others, the process was difficult and tiring. As children progress, their coaching needs become more specific and demanding. In my own journey, I had to change coaches a few times to find the right guidance. The chess world, like any field, has both genuine and less genuine people. Parents need to remain cautious, but each experience also brings learning.

There are, of course, outstanding coaches, both young and senior, who have created champions. Some are expensive, but their dedication is undeniable. Many players eventually also require support from psychologists and dieticians to handle the mental and physical demands of the sport.

The role of support

Another critical factor in building a strong chess player is having a robust support system. A child who dreams big in chess still has to balance schoolwork, projects, and exams. Schools may not always permit long leaves for tournaments, which makes the balance even harder. In the Islands, children often face full-day schooling followed by both homework and practice. In contrast, on the mainland, many promising players receive greater academic flexibility. This difference highlights how important school support can be.

At tournaments, I have seen parents bring home-cooked meals, utensils, or medicines to ensure their children’s comfort. Some even take small loans so their kids can participate in more events. These sacrifices may go unnoticed, but they form the backbone of a player’s journey.

Beyond the medals

Chess today is highly competitive. Even an unrated player can sometimes beat a master. Constant innovation and adaptability are key. Players must also learn patience, stress management, and resilience.

Behind every medal or trophy, there are untold stories of sacrifices. Many players may not reach official titles due to financial or logistical constraints, but that doesn’t mean their efforts are any less. The game teaches life lessons of discipline, persistence, and courage. Of course, there are trade-offs. A young player might miss out on some aspects of childhood, like outings, social events, and carefree Sundays. But they gain something equally profound: focus, resilience, and a sense of purpose!

About the author

Swapan Karmakar was born and brought up in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He is a former Airline Consolidator, well known in the airline business community of the Islands, and now works as an Academic Coach. A true chess enthusiast, he strongly believes in the game and often looks for young, hidden talents from the Islands to encourage and promote them at the national level. Swapan is a Computer Applications graduate and the only Red Hat Certified Engineer from the Islands. Earlier in his career, he was an IT professional and a cricket follower, but today his heart lies in chess. He also runs ChessNinjas Chess Academy in the capital city, Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), where many children are learning and growing through the game.