Port Blair, May 9: Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA) in collaboration with NGO Pankh Andaman conducted the unique program 'Chess and Concentration' followed by a blitz chess tournament exclusively for the students of Class VIII to XII at Hotel Driftwood in Port Blair today.

Dr. Nitin Shakiya Director, Department of Social Welfare, A & N Admn, was the chief guest at the inaugural function and made the ceremonial first move at the top board to inaugurate the event in the presence of Swami Shuddhananda Saraswati, Resident Acharya, Chinmay Mission Port Blair and office bearers of Pankh and ANCA.

Dr. Nittin Shakiya was the speaker of the concentration programme who gave the participants tips and techniques to improve their concentration skills to increase their productivity and efficiency through full attention.

After the concentration session, Smti. Komal Anand, the Founder President of Pankh, addressed the children and explained to them the importance of concentration for their future development. She also spoke about how chess sharpens and trains the mind. This was followed by a blitz tournament in which around 60 students from Class VIII to XII from various schools participated enthusiastically and R Kashthuri Bhai from GDMS School emerged as the winner. D Shrestha Vijay of VKV ZP Basantipur, N & M Andaman secured the second position while Yuvan Singh of Carmel Sr. Sec. School, who bagged the third position in the blitz tournament, is also the winner of the concentration and memory activity conducted during the event.

The closing ceremony was graced by Mohd. Jadwet as the Special guest of the closing ceremony while Swami Shuddhananda Saraswati, Resident Acharya, Chinmay Mission Port Blair, was the guest of honor. They distributed trophies, medals, cash prizes and certificates to the winners.