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30th December 2001

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Kushani
Contents

The right moves

By Chamintha Thilakarathna
Nirosh de Silva is a pleasant, fun-loving young man who holds the impressive title of National Chess Champion of Sri Lanka! What he isn't is a stereotypical nerd with a chess board and thick spectacles. And, if you imagined him walking around contemplating his next move, you are in for a surprise. 

This twenty-three-year-old, almost six footer is more likely to be found in front of a pop channel on radio or TV, if not hanging out with his friends during his leisure hours.

However, ever since he was introduced to the intricate and high concentration game at the age of eleven, by his neighbour Saranga Kaluarrachi, he has won several trophies and medals. He won the National Championship in 1998, and tied for first place in the same competition in '99. At the Sangli Commonwealth Tournament held in India in 2000, he won the silver medal in the experts category, and this year he managed to reclaim his title as the National Champion at the championship held last month.

So what made him take up chess? "From the day I learnt the basics, chess thrilled and interested me. It was like a mental challenge, said Nirosh. After his first tournament which was the Blitz Chess Open event held at the Moratuwa University a decade ago, he has been playing at any given opportunity, as a member of the Paul Morphy club which is affiliated to the Sri Lanka Chess Federation.

"It does not bore me. It is a fascinating game once you get the hang of it. Also it helped in my studies and in everything else as your powers of analytical thinking, concentration, reasoning and speed thinking are developed through chess," he said.

Nirosh is widely known by his chess pals as 'an aggressive opener'. He explains that it is because he tends to attack from the moment the game starts.

Although Nirosh's parents are novices at chess, his twenty-eight-year-old brother is not. Unlike Nirosh, he plays chess on the internet and it appears that he is one of the few players who have managed to beat the computer. According to Nirosh, everyone should try to learn the game and he is convinced they will not regret doing so.

However, he is dismayed by the plight of chess players and the status of the game in Sri Lanka. Nirosh says that they do not get adequate opportunities to participate in international or regional tournaments. Also that the 1,200-2,000 club players who take part in tournaments do not get encouragement, support nor any incentive to pursue their talents as a profession.

"In India there are professional chess players but not in Sri Lanka. The reason being that chess is not as established or encouraged here by governmental or other organizations. As a result the few players left also drop out due to lack of sponsors and financial support," Nirosh said.

Apparently coaching or training in chess is not freely available either, due to the game's restricted popularity.

Chess apart, he likes a bit of cricket but his other major achievements are in Bridge. "I have played Bridge at a national level and represented Sri Lanka at events at the 1999 and 2000 BFAME Championship."

Does he have a life beyond chess? Believe it or not, Nirosh swears that most of the time he cannot be found at a chess board. "I start practising about two hours a day closer to tournaments and when there aren't any, I hardly practise," he said. Managing a travel company with his father and elder brother, Nirosh says he loves partying, listening to Westlife and Boyzone and hanging out with his mates. 

The rest of the time he tries to convince his non-chess playing friends that it is a 'cool' sport, not limited to nerds (as some believe).

"It is a myth that chess is a difficult game or one that is played by nerds. Everyone can play it and play it well. All you need to do is to learn the rules, the moves and have a considerable interest. 

"It is a not a costly game as one can purchase a simple chess board for about Rs. 300 and an instruction book for about Rs. 100. I did the same," he said. Several other sports are more costly and time consuming, requiring special training and appropriate playing conditions. When it comes to chess, all one needs is a chess board and a knowledge of the rules.

Any future aspirations? The talented, young chess champion has hopes of entering the international arena and gaining worldwide recognition. But in the meantime, he hopes to encourage as many people to get started with chess and improve its status as a sport in Sri Lanka.



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