Himalayan Chess Academy has started special training from Sunday by bringing IM (International Master) Atanu Lahiri, winner of Commonwealth Chess Championship (year 1999).

The academy has conducted 'Masterclass with IM Lahiri' for intermediate level students and TOT (Training for Trainers) has been started for trainers. In the masterclass, training will be given on opening, mid game strategy, end game etc. The special training conducted in the academy's own chess hall at Kathmandu Metropolitan City 11, Thapathali will last for one week.

'It is difficult to train chess theoretically in a systematic way in Nepal, so we have brought internationally renowned FIDE trainer Lahiri to Kathmandu,' says Monalisha Khambu, the founder of Himalayan Chess Academy, 'He is a world-class coach who has trained many GMs (Grandmasters) including Rameshbabu Praganand, Suryashekhar Ganguly, Sandeepan Chand, including world champion Gukesh. We have brought him to give world level training to our players as well as to upgrade our coaches. His arrival will definitely contribute to the level of Nepali chess.''

Lahiri, who has reached a career-high FIDE rating of 2450, has managed the national teams of Nepal, Bhutan, Guyana, Thailand, Mongolia and India in his nearly three-decade coaching career. Earlier, he trained the Nepali national team in 2005. The 53-year-old from Kolkata has also won titles in four competitions held in Nepal, including the Ram Prasad Gautam Smriti of Elam.

Lahiri, who has served as the continental representative in the Education Commission of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), also has the experience of holding the office of Secretary of the Bengal Chess Association and Deputy Secretary of the All India Chess Association.