No obstacle could hold them back.

Abdur Rahman Ishan, Netrokona Correspondent:

There was no chess board in Neel Bhowmik's house. But he was very fond of playing chess. Neel would draw a chess board with chalk on the floor of the house. And make chess pieces with clay. Then he would play chess with his school teacher father Hrishikesh Bhowmik on that board. Thinking that it would spoil his studies, the school teacher mother did not like Neel and his father playing chess very much. So the father and son would go under the bed and play chess. Neel got a reward for this love for chess. Neel, who is studying in the sixth grade, is a student of Anjuman Adarsh Government High School in Netrakona district, the champion school of Mymensingh division. Proud of Neel's father Hrishikesh Bhowmik said, "We could not afford to buy a chess board. But we could not suppress Neel's interest in playing chess."

Jayant Sarkar had not been able to register his name in the school chess competition before. Because Jayant is short in height. This little chess player returned home very upset. Since then, Jayant has been stubborn. He will respond to the pain of not being allowed to play because of his short height through the chess board. Finally, Jayant Sarkar Mahi, a seventh-grade student of Anjuman Adarsh Government High School in Netrokona district, got the opportunity. Jayant did not just sit around registering his name in the 'Marks Active School Chess Champs' competition. He proved his worth by making his school the champion in the Mymensingh division as a team.

'Chess has to be played with the head, not with the body structure.' Jayant said these words from the other end of the phone in a flash. He played chess well since childhood. He grew up watching everyone in his family play chess together. 'My grandmother gifted me a chess board on my birthday. I was very happy. That was the best gift of my life so far.' This young chess player wants to prove himself again and again on the chess board, using the 'Mark's Active School Chess Champs' competition as a stepping stone.

Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, the captain of the chess team of Anjuman Adarsh Government High School, has a family background in chess. Ishtiaq said, "My mother introduced me to the game of chess. I developed an interest in learning chess from playing and losing to my mother every day. My only goal at that time was to defeat my mother once. I slowly learned the intricacies of chess. The mental struggle of playing chess fascinated me. I did not stop even after defeating my mother in a short time. I became the champion in the Mymensingh division. This time, I am fighting to be the best in the country."

Another member of the team, Faiyaz Rahman, a ninth-grade student, did not have any chess equipment. Whenever he saw someone from school or the neighborhood playing chess, Faiyaz would stand up and stare at the 32 black and white chess pieces. Seeing such love for chess, his aunt gifted him an old chess board. After that, who else could get Faiyaz…. This intellectual game became one of the means of spending his free time. Faiyaz said, 'Even though my parents did not like chess, they did not stop me from playing. However, there was one condition, that my studies should not be wasted. It took me a few years to master the chess moves. One day, I defeated my chess teacher, Faiyaz Rahman. What a joy I felt that day.' Faiyaz Rahman could not participate in the district level game due to illness. Being the school champion, he got the opportunity to participate in the divisional level. Faiyaz won there. Faiyaz's school became the champion.

Another member of the team, Sreejit Sarkar Sreeyam, has a slightly different story. The person who encouraged him the most in playing chess suddenly left for the country of no return. Sreejit lost interest in playing chess. With his mother's encouragement, he entered the 'Mark's Active School Chess Champs' competition. However, Sreejit Sarkar Sreeyam's beginning was like a beautiful story. 'When I was only seven years old, I first saw one of my uncles playing chess. Seeing the game, I became very interested. That's when I wanted to learn the game from my uncle.' Sreejit said, 'My uncle also taught me the game with joy. I used to practice with my uncle regularly. I never faced any obstacles from the family. However, my father was my rival and coach.' With the encouragement of his mother and teachers, Sreejit Sarkar Sreeyam's school participated in the competition and became the champion of the Mymensingh division. 'If my father could see this success, he would be very happy...' Sreeyam's voice became heavy as she said it.

Another member of the 'Marks Active School Chess Champs' is Aniruddha Gun from Anjuman Adarsh Government High School, the champion school of Mymensingh division.

Under the supervision of Bangladesh Chess Federation and sponsored by Abul Khair Group, the 'Mark's Active School Chess Champs' competition is being held across the country. With the slogan 'Become the Grandmaster of the Future', the competition is the biggest school-based chess tournament in the country. Students from 64 districts are representing their respective schools or institutions in the competition.