Chess enthusiasts across Jharkhand can look forward to add an edge to their moves during virtual training sessions by pros, organised by Jamshedpur Chess Academy (JCA) starting July 1.

The sessions will be free for a month.

“Online coaching will create an environment of learning at homes and gradually help trainees get acquainted with their coaches. It would be fun learning and is one of the cheapest courses offered so that the underprivileged section can also benefit,” said JCA secretary Pritam Singh.

Experienced hands, including Gujarat-based Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara, International Masters Atanu Lahiri (Calcutta) and Poobesh Anand (Chennai) will share their expertise from time to time.

Rajpara is the brand ambassador of the online training programme while Lahiri is advisor. Anand and former national champion Gurpreet Pal Singh, have been appointed as head coaches. Pritam Singh, a silver medallist at Asian Cities Team Championship in Dubai and Ravi Kumar from Raipur are also in the panel. Rohan Vijay Shandilya, a former under-14 national rapid chess champion, is the director.

The JCA has also nominated International Master Tibor Karolyi, a world-class chess coach and writer from Hungary, as curriculum director.

“We are providing a complete chess school with a syllabus for beginner, intermediate and advance levels, besides rated players,” said Pritam Singh.

The hourly fees range from Rs 50 for beginners, Rs 75 for intermediate level and Rs 250 for rated players, who will also get tips from Rajpara, Lahiri and Anand. Those with over 1500 ratings need to pay an hourly Rs 350, and the annual registration fee is Rs 3000.

(Contact Pradip Mukherjee (7903618508), Pritam Singh (7004495460) and Rohan Vijay Shandilya (7762980101) for further details.)