11JAN
STARS OF KERALA- NR ANILKUMAR FIDE TRAINER
N.R. Anilkumar is a prominent figure in Indian chess, notable for his achievements both as a player and a contributor to the development of chess. Born on May 30, 1957, in Ayyanthole, Thrissur, Kerala, Anilkumar has made significant strides in the chess world.
His chess career is marked by several notable achievements:
Early Beginnings: Anilkumar learned chess at the age of 15 and quickly rose to prominence in the sport. He won the Kerala State Junior title in 1977 and became the Kerala Senior Champion in 1979.
National Recognition: He made history by being the first player from Kerala to qualify for the National A Chess Championship in 1981. In the National A Championship at Kanpur in 1981, Anilkumar placed 4th, securing a place in the Indian team.
Chess Olympiad: Anilkumar represented India in the 25th Chess Olympiad in 1982, held in Lucerne, Switzerland.
International Competitions: He achieved third place in international tournaments in Colombo (1982 & 2006) and Singapore (1985), among other notable performances. He also won the board prize in the Asian Cities Invitation Championship in Kuala Lumpur in 1990.
National B Chess Championship: Anilkumar is the only player from Kerala to have won the National B Chess Championship, which he achieved in 1988 in Kozhikode.
Correspondence Chess: In 2003, he turned to correspondence chess, winning the All India Correspondence Championship twice. He became the first Indian player to win the International Master and Senior International Master titles in correspondence chess.
Chess Promotion and Organization: Anilkumar has been active in promoting chess in Kerala, starting the first private chess academy in Kerala in 1993, the Kasparov Chess Academy in Thrissur. He also organized the first ever Rapid Chess Tournament in Thrissur in 1986 and was instrumental in organizing various chess events, including a record participation one-day tournament in Thrissur in 2017.
Chess Houseboat and Chess Kerala: He initiated the organizing of the first-ever chess tourism event in India, Chess Houseboat 2020. Anilkumar is the President of Chess Kerala and a founding member of the Chess Players Forum.
Anilkumar's contributions extend beyond his playing career. He is an English professor and was the head of the department at Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur. He has also authored a chess training book in Malayalam and is a columnist for Mathrubhumi daily.
Anilkumar's journey in chess is a testament to his dedication and skill, and his contributions have been pivotal in promoting chess in Kerala and India?