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A practice session in progress before the start of the chess championship at Kohima on Tuesday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, July 3 (EMN): The 17th edition of the Nagaland State Chess Championship organised by the Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) got underway at the Red Cross Complex in Kohima on Tuesday. Top four players from this championship will represent the state in the forthcoming National Chess Championship. The championship will conclude on June 6. P.Khezhie, president NCA in his address said chess is one of the most popular game in the world and a game where there is no age bar.
Speaking on the benefit of playing chess, he said it is a brain exercise which enhances the quality of one’s intelligence and increases the creativity while also improves memories. The president also maintained that the game can increase skills in problem solving and improves reading skills as well as improves in concentration.
Stating that chess is a multi dimensional activity with its ever expanding horizon, he said ‘In India, today chess is a discipline of sports which it is in ‘A’ category, which is equally popular and important as football, cricket, boxing, and wrestling etc’. In this regard he said the association has produced 17 Elo rated players where Riiguolie Ziimvii was the first player to get his Elo rating in the year 1995 and currently Mughaho Awomi is the highest rated Elo rated player having Elo rating 1900 plus.
48 players including 19 students are taking part in the championship under three categories- open category, U-14 and U-17 years (boys and girls) category. Students from Little Flower School, Coraggio School, Holy Family School, and Mezhur Higher Secondary School are also taking part.
