A decade later, it’s safe to say that confidence was not misplaced when Gukesh defeated Ding Liren in Singapore last week to become the youngest world chess champion ever.

Velmohan was there when Gukesh reached the top of the chess world. Last Friday, after Gukesh secured the winning point, Velmohan took the next flight to Singapore. The opportunity to witness Gukesh’s coronation was not to be missed. And while dozens of photographers rush to snap a photo of the new king of 64 squares in his photo Return to ChennaiVelmohan stands in a corner and enjoys the moment. While security forces rescue Gukesh from the fray, Velmohan knocks the garlands off the 18-year-old’s shoulder and hugs him warmly.

Along with parents D. Rajnikanth and D. Padmavathi, Velmohan was the biggest support for Gukesh and one of the biggest catalysts for the popularity and legacy of chess in Tamil Nadu. The school that the 50-year-old runs is behind 22 of the 33 grandmasters the state has produced.

If Tal Chess Club is the place where Anand’s dreams began, then for the likes of Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali, it is Velammal School. The institution has been at the forefront of implementing the ‘Seven to Seventeen Program’ launched by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa soon after the 2013 World Chess Championship match between Anand and Magnus Carlsen held in Chennai became.

Every school was expected to teach the game to students, and in Velammal it became part of the curriculum. Every school year, around 1,000 children take part in a coaching program.

“I would attribute it to the competitions we hold throughout the year and the special coaching program that gives them a lot of exposure,” Velmohan told The Indian Express. “In DV Sundar (former secretary of the All India Chess Federation) and Manuel Aaron (India’s first international master), we had good experts to look after the children,” he adds.

MVM Velmohan (right), owner of Velammal School, with Gukesh and his parents. Photo by special arrangement

Full support

Over the years, students of the school have traveled across India and even abroad for chess events. If the children achieve convincing results, they are also sent on exposure tours. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa were part of the school team that won three world titles in school chess.

“Exposure and travel are also part of the learning journey. If students are able to manage studies and sports, it is our duty to provide this platform. That’s why I sponsor our students’ trips and also support them with free education, accommodation and food,” says Velmohan.

To stand out from the large number of schools in Chennai, they turned to sports, especially chess, as it was not an expensive venture. “When they performed well, we provided free scholarships and dormitory accommodation. From what I understand, middle-class students take sports seriously because they believe it can change their lives. It’s not just chess. We have students who have also excelled in badminton, swimming, athletics, skating, yoga and basketball,” he adds.

Every year, Velammal School brings world-class athletes to its campus for interactive sessions. Some of the famous names we visited include Anand, Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Dwayne Bravo and PT Usha. In September, Paris Olympics double medalist Manu Bhaker was at the school to present sports scholarships worth over two million rupees.

“These occasions are inspiring. Gukesh took inspiration from Anand and today he is a world champion…it is a cycle,” says Velmohan.

Sometime in the coming days, the school plans to welcome one of them – Gukesh – who is yet to visit the school and meet the students. “We are planning a mass felicitation program.”

After producing three players – Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali – who were part of the Indian teams that won the Chess Olympiad earlier this year, Velmohan has a new goal.

“We are already recognized as a factory for producing grandmasters and a driving force behind India’s chess revolution. Our goal is to produce at least 50 Grandmasters by 2030,” he says.