IM Raahil Mullick's fantastic efforts in training Blind Chess Players

IM Raahil Mullick trains Blind Chess players

Hey. I’m Raahil Mullick, a Chess International Master and student in the 11th grade. My love story with chess started way back when I was 4 years old, and the countless wins, losses, jubilations and heartbreaks along my journey are all quite vivid in my mind. I got a chance to meet many players from across the world, but some, more than others, left an indelible mark in my life. 

The first time I interacted with a visually impaired player was in Czech republic, in January 2018 when I was 11 years old. I was just 1900 rated then, and after my first round win, I was paired with a Polish player Chojnowski Marcin with an Elo rating of 2115. To my absolute surprise when I came to the playing board, which was the last board in the hall, I realized that my opponent was blind, and he had a separate Braille type chess board on which he was moving the pieces. We played a long, tiring game and finally, we both agreed to a draw. That day I felt bad for my opponent, yet had so much respect for him, thinking to myself that he plays with a disability, and yet had such a strong will power to play such long games without even getting to see his pieces! 

In February 2018, the National Chess Championship for the Blind was held in Mumbai where 14 of the most promising blind chess players competed for the title. I had the privilege to go and see them play, and I realized all the players may be visually impaired ,but they are mentally very strong!

After this exposure, IM Sagar Shah, who was leading the training of the National Blind Chess team requested me to play some practice classical chess games with Kishan Gangolli, who had won the National Championship and thought that we both could learn a lot from each other. I jumped at the opportunity and started playing online practice games with Kishan. I remember there was a game in which I had a better position against him, but under time pressure, I blundered in the end. I realized that we really could learn so much from each other. Our partnership, driven by a shared aspiration for personal improvement, continued for many months as we played and analyzed games with each other. Realizing that his calculation is so strong, I started to spend longer hours playing chess blindfolded, wherein I ensured that I couldn’t see the chess board during my calculations and game. I think this strategy really helped me.

In June 2019, after a lot of hard work and preparation, I made my first IM norm and became an IM in Oct 2019. I know that I had imbibed skills of grit and determination from my interactions with Kishan. It was in the Covid-19 lockdown when I picked up practice games with Kishan again and also got a chance to work with Aryan Joshi, another very talented blind chess player. Our intense matches, coupled with post-game analyses, proved mutually beneficial for all of us. Witnessing their prowess despite their visual challenges left an indelible mark on me. I was in awe of their commitment to the game. I was mesmerized by their strength and was deeply inspired by their resilience.

Around the same time, I was working for Unacademy as their youngest chess educator. At age 13, it was a novel endeavour and exposed me to the joys of teaching. These experiences upskilled me as a coach.

Then, about a year ago, Sagar Sir approached me with a proposal: to coach Sanskruti More, a rising star in the blind chess world gearing up for the Asian Paralympics. I jumped at the chance, eager to serve the blind chess community. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, just some routine training sessions. However, Sanskruti was an extremely diligent student and I had regular training sessions with her for the 3 months leading to the tournament. Sanskruti went on to snag a bronze at the Paralympics in Oct 2023, and I couldn't have been prouder! Sanskruti’s achievements were also applauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A recent milestone has added a new dimension to my endeavors. I am thrilled to share that I have been appointed as the official coach of the Indian National Blind Chess Junior team, which is going to take part in the 12th IBCA World Junior Chess Championship for the blind and visually impaired from 27th September to 7th October 2024 in Bengaluru, India. This new role presents an exciting opportunity for me to contribute to the growth and success of these visually impaired chess players. This opportunity offers me the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of these young players, just as my mentors and experiences have shaped mine.

The chess community is a small world, and very recently I was approached by 3 passionate youngsters who had heard about my experiences coaching Sanskruti. Inspired by my work for the blind, they too wanted to pitch in and help the visually impaired chess community! The best part is that all these 3 players are from 3 different countries! Motivated by their enthusiasm, an idea struck me – why don’t I create a platform where we can have willing chess players mentor visually impaired players and help them improve their game? My schedule only permits me to work with 4 or 5 players, but this platform opens the opportunity for many more blind chess players to play with and learn from enthusiastic, young trainers.

Now, I’m all about turning this passion into action by launching a Blind Chess Academy. It’s for all the visually impaired chess minds out there who wish to take their game to the next level but lack the required resources and guidance. We’re here to support them, because let’s face it, we’ve got serious talent in India!

To all my fellow chess lovers, I'm calling on you to spread the word. And to my visually impaired friends, don't hesitate to join us, no matter your skill level. And of course, rest assured that this initiative is a service, completely free of any charge whatsoever. Together, we will strive to overcome challenges and push boundaries, both on and off the chess board.

Application for Raahil's Blind Chess Academy

IM Raahil Mullick’s initiative, The Blind Chess Academy, aims to connect visually challenged chess players of all levels with passionate mentors from all over the world. It is a space where aspiring trainers can share their skills and experiences, opening up new opportunities for many visually impaired players to improve their game. Our aim with this platform is to empower the visually impaired chess community by helping them connect with play partners, trainers, and mentors. This application form is for both visually impaired players wanting to learn and mentors eager to coach.

To all aspiring mentors, do not hesitate to apply irrespective of your chess skill level. At this academy, we match mentors with mentees of appropriate level so that ultimately, everyone can benefit. Further, you will be given adequate training before you begin mentorship. Apply now and join the movement!

Enroll for the Academy here

About the author

IM Raahil Mullick is a very strong junior player who became an International master at the age of just 12 years and 5 months! He has a rating of 2368 at the moment. He is also coaching chess players, and will be the Official coach of the Indian National Blind Chess Junior team in the upcoming IBCA World Championship for Juniors.

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