CHENNAI: In a city that’s producing chess prodigies and record-breakers at a dizzying speed and with parents rushing to turn their children into the next Gukesh or Pragg, coach Shyam Sundar, a Grandmaster is choosing a quieter revolution.
Rather than bowing to the pressure of creating champions, the Chennai coach has built his academy – Chess Thulir (meaning ‘a young leaf’) – as a space where young players can learn to love the game without the weight of expectations. And, in an era where chess can be learned and played from anywhere, thanks to the convenience of online platforms, Shyam saw the importance of offering something more.
“I’ve been training a lot of students online for over a decade, but it was during the pandemic (2021 to be precise) that I realised the true need for offline training,” Shyam told TOI.
With the rise of AI and digital technology, chess is becoming more of a computer-based sport, and Shyam understood the toll it was taking. “Players rarely even step outside or go out in the sun anymore. And some of the kids are either pampered or kept in a strictly controlled environment. When they come to the academy, I want them to be completely free from any stress.
“Seven hours (10am to 5pm) are dedicated to chess, but after that, we play cricket or badminton for two hours. More often, they look forward to the second half of the day. It’s a chance for them to enjoy a game without pressure. What’s hurting to see is that some kids, due to parental pressure and fierce competition, don’t even talk to each other. That’s not the case at my academy, I want my players to have the helping mentality and bond well. Chess should be fun, not a race to break records,” said Shyam, who was the coach of the Indian team at the 2023 FIDE World Cup.
Building an academy in Chennai which is a home to some of the best-established training institutions in the country was never going to be easy. And the challenges didn’t end with physical and logistical hurdles; Shyam also had to navigate a landscape filled with competition, misleading promises, and difficult dynamics.
“At times, some of my students couldn’t even mention my name as their trainer due to various factors. This kept happening every now and then. They could be training with other coaches…I really have no idea. Also, a few people had come forward to sponsor the academy and some students here, but it hasn’t materialised till now. It’s painful,” said Shyam, who is currently training over 50 students at his academy in Perambur.
The fruits of Shyam’s dedication are slowly starting to show as his students edge closer to elite status. Last week, S Aswath earned his maiden GM norm at the Grenke Open, while M Anees became an IM (International Master) at the same event. In March, V Pranav, whom Shyam has been training for the past 18 months, was crowned World Junior Champion.
It’s not just local talent either; players from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Kashmir, including the region’s only IM, Soham, have come to Chennai to train under him.
“It is tough, but you learn to keep going, especially when you see your students succeed. I have a larger goal, and because of it, I’m accepting these kinds of setbacks and focusing on the bigger picture. We have world-class level players and it will show. Because of some negative incidents, I can’t let my good ones be overshadowed,” said the 32-year-old coach.