The leadership of Kolkata’s children impressed Tania Sachdev

International Master Tania Sachdev described her visit to RP Goenka School in Kolkata as one of the most special mornings of recent years. In the city for the Trailblazer Sports Conclave, the experienced chess player and commentator did not turn down an invitation to meet young students despite her busy schedule. Recalling that Kolkata holds a special place in the chess world, especially through top-level tournaments such as Tata Steel, Sachdev emphasized that this brief school visit became a far more meaningful experience than she had expected.

What made the visit unusual was not simply that it was a meeting between an athlete and a school. The truly striking part was the way students aged just 8-10 ran the event almost professionally. The children who came onto the stage introduced the session, asked the questions, guided the flow of the conversation, and communicated with remarkable confidence. Although teachers and school administrators were present in the hall, they chose to stay in the background and left the initiative entirely to the students. In Sachdev’s words, a teacher on stage asked almost no questions; all the curiosity and energy came from the young students.

The questions asked by these young moderators were as impressive as their confidence. Centered on topics such as her chess career, her experience in commentary, her favorite aspects of the game, and the contribution of chess to personal development, the questions were clear, thoughtful, and unhesitating. Once again, this showed that chess gives children not only opening knowledge, tactical vision, or endgame technique, but also nurtures life skills such as stage presence, self-expression, decision-making, and leadership. Especially in India, the growing chess culture of recent years reveals that younger generations are embracing the game not only as a competitive pursuit, but also as a space for thinking and self-expression.

Tania Sachdev’s account of that morning in Kolkata is a reminder of how broadly chess has expanded its relationship with society. Today, chess is growing not only in tournament halls where grandmasters compete, but also in schools, clubs, and the imaginations of children. This meeting at RP Goenka School symbolized both the connection between a successful Indian chess figure and young students, and the fact that confident children who will shape the chess culture of the future are already ready to step onto the stage. For Sachdev, the visit may remain an unforgettable memory; but it seems clear that for the children in that hall as well, this encounter with the inspiring face of chess will stay with them for a long time.