Kids attend the Bihar chess training centre at Moinul Haq Stadium in Patna. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

A chess player in Bihar has as much chance of landing a job in Bihar under sports quota as a novice has of defeating Viswanathan Anand at the game.

The general administration department has imposed a tall order on chess players expecting jobs under quota. A player will need to have played ‘National A’ or ‘National Premier’. A player has to be among top eight in ‘National B’ to be eligible to play ‘National A’. In other words, the candidate would have to be of a grandmaster or international master standard. Bihar is yet to produce a grandmaster or international master.

Not surprising then that only one candidate with a chess background got a job under the general administration department’s chess promotion quota in 2011-2012. There were five vacancies.

Rakesh Ranjan, a national-level player who has played several national championships like National B, National Team Championship, National Rapid, National under 25, National under 19 and many other International Open Chess Championships, could not make it. “We were required to be a national player in the senior category. All other sports witnessed appointments that year. It was gloomy only in the case of chess,” said Rakesh, who has been playing since 1986 and is a joint secretary in the All Bihar Chess Association.

Smita Choudhary of Darbhanga (plays from Bhagalpur), who played five national championships and over 20 state-level games, had also applied. “I’m concerned about other deserving players. I’ve a private job now,” she said.

“The condition should not be so,” says Arvind Kumar Sinha, secretary of All Bihar Chess Association and Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Master (only one from Bihar till date). Some relaxations should be given so that one can at least apply. Arvind said he had written to then principal secretary of GAD and principal secretary of art, culture and youth affairs, requesting them to incorporate National B players in the criteria, like in other games. “The criteria can change if GAD department considers it,” he said.

But general administration department joint secretary Anil Kumar, said, “If no one fulfils the criteria, then they should not apply. What can be done?” A high level meeting is likely soon. “Let’s see if this is discussed,” he said.

A good number of national and international chess players — Pramod Kumar Singh, Rahul Sangma and Vipal Subhasi and recent ones like Sourav Anand and Garima Gaurav — come from Bihar. But the state does little to encourage budding players. Arvind said, “The state government allocated us space at the Moinul Haq Stadium in 2010, but even drinking water is not available for players. No chess clocks have been provided, at least 70 are required. The players themselves bought a few. The state hasn’t provided chairs, tables and fans. There is no generator. Whenever there is a power cut, the game suffers, as time is important.”

In 2011, Arvind had to return software worth Rs 35,000 to help players enhance their skills. The money was sanctioned but never arrived. Arvind himself organised a grandmaster coaching camp led by Arjuna awarde P Thipsay, and an International Master coaching camp led by V. Koshy in 2011.