CELESTIAL MINDS EXPLORES, EXPANDS AND ENRICHES CHESS HORIZON

“In chess the most unbelievable thing for me is that it’s a game for everybody: rich, poor, girl, boy, old, young. It’s a fantastic game which can unite people and generations! It’s a language which you’ll find people "speak" in every country. If you reach a certain level you find a very rich world! Art, sport, logic, psychology, a battlefield, imagination, creativity not only in practical games but don’t forget either how amazing a feeling it is to compose a study, for example”  -  Judith Polgar(Highest ever rated woman player on the planet)

Celestial Minds having grown and consolidated in the past three years, decided to explore, expand and encompass the myriad possibilities within the Chess horizon in 2014. The basic aim of Celestial Minds is to reach out and spread the love for Chess by creating a place where youngsters can play, practise and polish their skills, develop a mind-set which can grasp and enhance certain mental abilities. The game which explores Arts in terms of originality and creativity and lays the foundation of logic and rationality with its scientific and mathematical approach, is making its appearance in ‘Chess in Schools’ programs throughout the World. The effort of Celestial Minds in attracting and popularizing the game amongst youngsters in New England has been lauded with congratulatory messages in the journals of the United States Chess Federation and New Hampshire Chess Association.

Kavyashree Mallanna, the Founder Director of Celestial Minds is the  driving force behind the novel concept of ‘fusion’ between the cerebral sport, chess with aesthetic element- Music. Kavyashree  herself is a Karnataka State Chess Champion on numerous occasions in various Age Categories and USCF Expert Rated player. It was more than a decade ago in 2003 that this IT post graduate Engineer after some soul searching, shunned a lucrative career and adopted the one closest to her heart. Kavyashree then embarked on this innovative journey by starting Prema Chess Lab (named after her mother Professor Premaleela who introduced and fostered, her love for chess) with just two students and one which has graduated to Celestial Minds in 2013. Over past decade Celestial Minds has provided platform to over 1000 players through different events.

Her passion and pursuit of chess, religiously and diligently resulted in her earning a maiden World Chess Federation (FIDE) International Organizer norm after attending a week’s FIDE seminal and passing the written exam. 

Celestial Minds also embarked on a new noble  mission this year, reaching and touching hearts by starting an ‘Outreach program’ “ Express Through Chess”. The Puttaveeramma Residential School for the hearing and speaking impaired Girls in Mysore, is the first school to be included in this on-going program whose motto is “Enrich and Inspire”where free chess coaching is  being imparted to the girls in collaboration with the local chess players. This initiative is aimed at building the confidence of these Girls and creating a platform where they can compete on equal terms, enriched with the imparted knowledge.

Amongst the usual programs, the highlight was the organization of the New England Junior Open Chess Championship amongst the six New England States in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.  The event as per the norm it has set for itself was replete with various variants of chess like Simultaneous display and puzzle solving competition. Secondly it appreciated and acknowledged the efforts and accolades of its students by felicitating the ones with outstanding achievements in Individual and Team Championships in scholastic events in New England.

USCF rated- New England Junior Open Chess Championship K12 Standings; June 8th 2014 MA,USA

1. Abhinav Govindaraju  (Concord, NH) 2. David Katsman   (Chestnut Hill, MA)3. Suhaas Katikaneni  (Nashua, NH) 4. Anish Kammila   (Nashua, NH) 5. Aayush H Patel  (Acton, MA) 

USCF rated- New England Junior Open Chess Championship K12 Standings; June 8th 2014 MA, USA

1. Nicholas Belous  (Reading, MA) 2. Jerry Li  (Acton, MA) 3. Advay Goel  (Acton, MA) 4. Kyle Hooloomann (Acton, MA) 5. Meghana Kancharla  (Hudson, MA)

Exploring newer avenues and location, Celestial Minds collaborated with Mysore Chess Center  run by Nagendra Muralidhar and Suresh.S and organized the high profile ‘All India FIDE Rated Rapid and Blitz Open Chess Championship’ in Mysore which incidentally was one of the  biggest event of this magnitude to be hosted in Mysore under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF). The popularity of this event could be gauged from the fact that it attracted 350 players from all over India and included Grandmasters, International Masters, Women Grandmasters and rated players.

All India FIDE Open -Blitz Standings; Aug 15-17 2014 Mysore, India

1.  IM Narayanan Srinath (TN-8 pts-52.5) 2. IM P.Shyam Nikhil (TN-8 pts-51) 3. D.Yashas (Kar-7.5 pts) 4. Ram S. Krishnan (TN-7 pts-49.5) 5. M.G.Gahan (Kar-7 pts-48)

All India FIDE Open- Rapid Standings; Aug 15-17 2014 Mysore, India

1. GM R.R. Laxman (TN-8 pts) 2. IM Himanshu Sharma (Rlys-7.5) 3. IM T.S. Ravi (TN-7.5) 4. M.G. Gahan (Kar-7.5) 5. IM Narayanan Srinath (TN-7pts)

Celestial Minds also co-sponsored  the Karnataka State Women’s Chess Championship along with Mysore District Chess Association and Mysore Chess Center. If younger kids are to be imparted chess knowledge, it is imperative that the women also understand the rudiments of the game. Alexander Pushkin, the founder of the Modern Russian literature and considered one of the greatest Russian Poets emphatically emphasized the benefit of playing chess with â€œThank you, darling, for learning to play chess. It is an absolute necessity for any well organized family. “- (in a letter to his wife)

State Women's Chess Championship; Aug 1-2 2014 Mysore, India

1.Shruthi K (SHIMOGA) 5½ pts 2.Isha Sharma (DK) 5 pts 3.Shalon Joanne Pais (MANGALORE) 4½ pts 4.Manasa H R (MYSORE) 4½ pts 5.Gangamma B.N (MYSORE)  4½ pts

Ajith MP was the recipient of the prize sponsored by Celestial Minds in ‘Mysore City Open Rated Championship’ conducted by Mysore Chess Center in October 2014.

Interestingly it was a ‘Double Delight’ for Kavyashree as she featured in the top ten at the State Open Rapid Chess Habba ( Chess Festival, Nov 2nd,3rd 2014) organized by Manjunath Jain of Mandya on the City outskirts. It was an event where Kavyashre was also invited to present the Prizes on the dais.

The Grandmasters, International Masters and Woman Grandmasters participating in the Mysore District Chess Association Rapid and Blitztournament conducted on 8^th and 9^th November were felicitated by Celestial Minds for their achievements.

It was recognition on a personal level for Kavyashree and on a Professional level for Celestial Minds with JSS Medical College, Mysore felicitating her and inviting her to conduct a seminar which was organized by P R Co-ordinator Jayshakar. The seminar conducted in August was well attended by the students with the staff also joining in. Visweswaraya Technological Institute (VTU) also felicitated Kavyashree and invited her as the Chief Guest to inaugurate the University Team Championship for all BE Colleges in Karnataka in August 2014.

 Celestial Minds will be ushering the new year with chess camps to begin with, in January and will also be contemplating some novelties to add to its already rich repertoire of programs.

|