Meet Thane’s chess grandmaster Nipun Dangche

Nipun Dangche, a resident of Rutu Estate in Thane, is a national-level chess player, having represented India once in Western Asia Chess Championship in Delhi in 2019. Whether playing blindfolded or against multiple players simultaneously, Nipun has the expertise to do it all. In a candid conversation with Nipun, the editorial team of KYT explores Nipun’s love for the game.

Since when are you playing chess?
I started playing chess when I was in the third standard. My father inspired me to play the game. As a kid, I played with him just for fun. Gradually, I developed an interest and love for the game. It has been more than seven years since I have been practising the sport. My first three tournaments were at Universal School in Brahmand. They were held on weekends. I scored three points in each of the three competitions.

Who is your coach?
While my father was my first coach, I later sought formal training. I have been trained under Vivek Rane, Abhijit Joshi, and Arun Vaidya. At present, Vikramaditya Kulkarni is my coach.

How many hours do you practise daily?
Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was actively participating in different chess competitions, I practised for around three hours daily. Since the lockdown, the practice hours have reduced as I have not played any tournament for the last three years. With things back to normal, I am again geared up and practising for two hours daily. My next target is the U19 state tournament in Vasai, followed by nationals in Gujarat in August.

What are the different tournaments in which you have participated?
Before COVID-19, I played in the Asian Youth Games, two nationals (U11 and U13), and other competitions organised in different districts and states of India. I also won the DSO tournament twice.

Has chess helped you in your academics? In your recently completed 10th standard exam, you scored 86.6%, which is excellent.

I was not so good at academics. But my academic graph saw an upward trend when I started playing chess professionally. My abilities to calculate and remember things have improved tremendously. I can also play chess blindfolded. Even if my eyes are covered, I can play since I can imagine the chess board in my mind and the moves made by my opponent. Similarly, when I close my eyes during the exam, I can recollect the content in the textbooks with their page numbers.

Can you tell us how one can play chess blindfold?
A chess board has alphabets from ‘a’ to ‘h’ and numbers from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Every move is represented by these alphabets and numbers, for instance, a5, d3, etc. Though my eyes are closed, I can hear these alpha numerals. Once I hear that, I can imagine the same on the chess board and then plan my move. Blindfold chess is challenging as it requires a lot of concentration.

Besides playing blindfold chess, you can also play against multiple opponents simultaneously. What does it take to play such a game of chess?
When you are playing against multiple players simultaneously, you need to visualise every chess board you are playing on repeatedly. It is hard to memorise the numerous boards, anticipate your opponents’ moves and make calculations based on the gameplay. On the other hand, when it is one-on-one, it is comparatively easier.

According to you, what are the qualities of a good chess player?
A good chess player needs to have a lot of focus and patience, be a proactive decision-maker, and be an excellent observer. Besides, he/she should be able to concentrate on multiple things and think out of the box if needed.

Who is your favourite chess player?
I like Vishwanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.