The South Mumbai Chess Academy (SMCA) in its continuous endeavour to promote and develop the sport of chess among upcoming talented children has spread its wings to the southern part of country by starting full time chess centres in the cities of Eluru and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. Buoyed by their overall success and having touched base in Andhra, the SMCA directors in now aiming towards new ventures and will soon start their academies in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kakinada.
A trainee (left) plays a game with Andhra Pradesh Chess Association officials and Durga Nagesh Guttula, the CEO of SMCA at the launch of the academy in the cities of Eluru and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.
The SMCA currently has centres across 13 cities in India with the international branches located in Singapore and Dubai. Durga Nagesh Guttula, the CEO of the esteemed organisation plans on expanding this venture across 63 cities across the world in the next two years.
The $3 million entity promoted by FIDE Master Balaji Guttula and Durga Nagesh Guttula is one of the leading chess academies in the world in terms of the strength of students and the network of centres. Time and again, the institution has produced exciting talents who have made the state as well as the country proud by bagging several medals at the national and international stages, respectively.
The CMD and chief coach Balaji Guttula said, “The idea of taking SMCA to every nook and corner of the country is to identity the talent and nurture them with quality coaching.”
“India has always been a country which has produced some exceptional talents in chess and we at SMCA are determined to great distances for the sport to develop and expand in the country. One can only be hopeful of the fact that India turns out to be a chess powerhouse in the future”.
Andhra Pradesh Chess Association (APCA), General Secretary, Sri Hari expressed happiness on this association “Its an honour to be associated with one the world’s leading and best chess academy in the country. SMCA in Andhra Pradesh is a welcomed the move and this would further develop the game in Andhra and bring out the best chess players from the state. I am confident that SMCA would help in grooming the talented chess players and develop the youngsters into world class professionals,” said Hari.