Bhubaneswar, Nov. 7: The second Grand Master Chess Coaching Camp for state players began here on Monday.

Tajikistan-origin Grandmaster Farrukh Amonatov of Russia is imparting coaching to major players of the state during the nine-day camp organised by the All-Odisha Chess Association.

Talented International Masters (IMs), Women Grand Masters (WGMs), Fide Masters and international players of the state are taking part in the camp.

IMs Swayangshu Satyapragyan and Debashis Das, who are both a victory away from securing the Grand Master title, are being groomed for their next international tournaments at the camp.

Other IMs such as Anwesh Upadhyay, Swayams Mishra and WGMs Padmini Rout and Kiran Manisha Mohanty feel the camp is an eye-opener for them in many ways.

“Farrukh sir is a Grand Master himself and is known in the top circuit of international chess. Interacting with him is giving me a lot of exposure on the strategies of chess players abroad,” said Debashis.

“He is very patient and gives time to each of us for our queries and even appreciates our techniques. This camp is helping me understand the different approaches to difficult situations on the board,” said Kiran Manisha.

Fide Master Soumyaranjan Mishra and international players Sidhant Mohapatra, Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, Mohammad Ashraf and Rakesh Kumar Jena are also a part of the camp that will continue till November 13.

Farrukh said: “I thought there might be a language barrier between the participants and me, but thankfully we all converse in English. We have no troubles understanding each other. I love the experience here and, I must say, the players are very talented. I would love to come back here for camps or tournaments,” said the Russian Grand Master, who spends over six hours everyday coaching the Odisha players.