How 64 squares build infinitely more dreams

Bengaluru: Chess ace Kavyashree Mallanna of Celestial Minds is taking special efforts to popularize the sport across the world, especially in underdeveloped regions.

As a youngster in Mysore, she has been the Karnataka state chess champion for many years.

She was introduced to chess by her parents Prof. K.R. Premaleela and  Prof.S. Mallanna.

She continued her quest in chess in USA as a player, coach and as an organizer. Kavya has spent more than two decades bringing the joy of chess to many of her young students, who have gone on to win many tournaments.

She is also a chess organizer who brings the larger chess community together; whether it is in her domicile Boston (New England) area, Uganda/Kenya, Goa or her home state Karnataka.

Kavya did not want to limit her chess skills to the above-mentioned objectives, instead, for over a decade, she has made a wider impact through the “Express through chess”, a sports based social outreach programme. 

Chess enthusiasts around the world, who may have certain medical conditions or belong to impoverished sections of society, have benefited from this.

Through this initiative, Kavya has identified chess enthusiasts from such backgrounds in Kenya/Uganda, and India and is helping them play chess and dream big.

Kavya is currently looking forward to her trip to Uganda this spring. This is her second trip to East Africa for chess outreach purposes.

Last year, she worked with children and ran chess camps in Mukuru and Kibera slums of Kenya and Katwe slum in Uganda.

In the upcoming trip, she will be conducting chess camps and tournaments at Katwe and Gulu.

In furtherance of this initiative, Kavya and Celestial Minds have collaborated with like-minded institutions around the world such as SOM Academy (Uganda), Centenary Chess Club (Goa), and Mysore Chess Centre. 

As part of the outreach in East Africa, Kavya has partnered with Robert Katende, Ugandan chess ambassador, to popularize the game.

These organizations provide assistance to slum children to ensure their wellbeing and education.

Chess plays an important part in this story.

For more on this initiative, contact info@celestialminds.net