Bhubaneswar, April 15: The battle for the 64-squared field is growing popular in the state with thousands of youngsters flocking to various centres to learn the art of playing chess.

With more champions at the national and international level emerging from the state, including Anwesha Mishra, who won the U-14 Girls' category at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Mongolia on Wednesday, the fan following of the game is on an upward trajectory.

At least 3,000 children and teenagers learn the game for championship levels at various centres across the state. For the past 10 years, there has been a steady rise in the game's following and, according to coaches, the success of the state's chess players at the junior-level competitions has brought more aspiring players into the game.

"During our times, participation in national and international events were a big thing. But since 2005, several players from Odisha such as Padmini Rout, Debashis Das, Adyasha Mohapatra, Rudrakha Parida won national titles in the categories for seven to 16-year-olds. More victories followed for them at higher age groups," said SR Chess Centre director Satya Ranjan Patnaik.

He said that in the late 1990s, players such as Swayangshu Satyapragyan displayed great talent, but there were not many coaching centres to guide them.

In the past five years, Kiran Manisha Mohanty became the state's first Woman Grandmaster while Debashish Das was the state's first Grandmaster. Padmini Rout has been granted International Master status.

Odia players have secured victories in events such as the National Women Premier Championship, Commonwealth Chess Championship, National Rapid Chess Championship, Asian Continental Chess Championship and World Youth Chess Championship in the past few years.

Debashish Das attributed the success at junior levels to good coaching facilities.

"Our predecessors did not have grooming facilities at the grassroots level that we have. This is attracting parents and young players since success at international and national levels is possible," he said.

The facilities for training schoolchildren in chess is available across almost all districts of the state.

Even teenagers from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are coming down to Odisha to get good coaching.

"The training at the grassroots level is strong, especially in the Under-11 categories. We are training around 2,000 youngsters across Odisha by tying up with local chess centres," said Patnaik.

While more kids are showing a keen interest in chess and joining coaching centres, survival at the senior level is becoming increasingly difficult.

The lack of coaches with international experience, proper analysis of the players' strategies and moves during matches have contributed largely to the lack of success for the successful youngsters at the senior level, said the players.

"We are almost on our own when it comes to the senior-level championships. For Odia players to do well beyond the boys and girls categories, we badly need to get good coaching facilities here," said Debashis.