Visually impaired chess players overcome first-floor hurdle

“Complaints are prayers to the wrong god,” a quote by American novelist Anne Lamott rings true for chess enthusiasts with visual impairment as they take stairs to the first floor of the Sector-39 Sports Complex to participate in the 2025 AICFB North Zone Chess Championships for Visually Challenged.

The meet, which should have ideally been conducted at a venue equipped with infra for persons with disabilities, is underway at an arena that was earlier a yoga teaching centre. It was only a day before the start of the tournament that tables and air-conditioners were placed here for the first-ever competitive event at the centre.

As many as 80 visually impaired students are playing in the championships hosted by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) in collaboration with the All-India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB).

“We cannot complain about everything, life is challenging and we should learn how to handle and tackle such problems,” said Shubham, one of the participants and a member of the organising team, when asked about the difficulty faced by the players while taking stairs to the hall.

“It’s for the first time that the event is being held here. This is a good venue. Earlier, we played on the Panjab University campus, where the arena was located at the ground floor. We faced problems here initially, but are now used to the surroundings,” smiled Shubham, who was hesitant to talk about the venue.

The chess arena is up a flight of 18 stairs from a popular swimming centre on the ground floor. Notably, the entrance does have a ramp, but the approach to the first floor still puts the players at risk. The participants are usually guided by their subordinates.

A not-so-easy journey

Chess players have the privilege to watch the board, analyse it and the pieces before deciding on their move. Players with visual impairment, however, rely on mental calculation. “A normal braille chess board costs about Rs 900, along with squares and pieces. It’s quite heavy on our pockets. And like other chess players, we have to get coaching as well, which is also quite expensive. Since the sport is not very popular in India, we even struggle to get proper training. Chess meets for visually impaired also face difficulty in getting sponsors,” explained Shubham.

The chess sets are designed with easily differentiable squares and pieces. The boards have recessed squares and the pieces have pegs atop one color of chessmen.

The youngest participant in the ongoing meet is nine-year-old Hitesh, while the oldest is 60-year-old Ambika Prasad. The top seven will be selected for the Zonal National, and the top-five at the Zonal event will play in the World Championships.

Usually, the meets are played across two categories — partially and totally visually impaired. This event falls in the second category. The participants are champions from their respective states.

Blind by tragedy, Asian Champion by choice

The 2023 Asian Para Games bronze medallist, Somender, still remembers the day when he last looked into his grandfather’s eyes to ask in a numbed voice… “what happened to my eyes?”.

Down with chickenpox fever at the age of six, Somender had never imagined that he would lose 75 per cent of his sight. However, with the passage of time, the lad from a Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, decided to start his life afresh.

“I started playing chess in 2013-14 after coming to New Delhi. While living in the school hostel, I picked it up as a hobby… I opted for chess after a senior promised to teach me. He was quite experienced. The day I won the medal in China, he was the first person I called,” said Somender, a multi-time national-level medal winner who is also competing in Chandigarh.

Rajesh Ashwin, a promising talent, lost his sight after an accident when he was in Class 9. He would listen to chess commentary often and was immediately drawn to the game. After winning many accolades, he also played the Junior World Cup. “He talks less and always takes a nap after winning a round of chess. This is his way to relax,” laughed Somender as Ashwin stood next to him with a smile on his face.

Chandigarh