Date:02/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/02/stories/2007060210880200.htm

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Karnataka - Bangalore

Facing the Grandmaster, virtually

Staff Reporter

Chess enthusiasts from six cities try out their skills

Viswanathan Anand played online with them from Kolkata

BANGALORE: For Thomas Kurian, a 17-year-old Bangalore student, it was a dream chess match.

On the monitor in front of him was none other than Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.

Mr. Anand, sitting in a studio in Kolkata, played online with Mr. Kurian who was in Bangalore.

Mr. Kurian was not alone. Simultaneously in five other cities 11 young chess enthusiasts tried out their skills against the champion.

But the games were not carried to their logical conclusion, as the intention of the organisers was to demonstrate the use of synchronous learning technology.

Uses

The organisers, NIIT, said that the technology was being used for its executive education programmes which connected remote classrooms live with the faculty from the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Indore. "I am happy to make use of the technology which helps me play with so many people across many cities and also interact with them," said Mr. Anand, who is the brand ambassador for NIIT.

`Nice feeling'

A beaming Mr. Kurian, after an hour and 23 moves into the inconclusive match, said, "It's a nice feeling to have played with the chess wizard."