The All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB) is the governing body for the game of Chess among visually impaired in India. It was formed in 1997 with a view to promoting the game of chess among the visually impaired all over the country. It is registered under Society Registration Act, 1860, Public Trust Act, 1951 and Income Tax Act, 1961 - Section 12A.

Aims and objectives

Although the main objective of the organization is to promote the game among the visually impaired all over India, the organization has a set of aims and objectives such as

• Forming state associations in all the states in the country
• Providing playing opportunities to all players all over the country.
• Publishing and provide Braille books on chess to help players develop their game.
• Building an audiocassette library, which provides information and analysis of chess games.
• Making available computers, relevant software etc.
• Organizing seminars and coaching camps.
• Interacting with the government and introduce chess as a subject in blind schools.
• Organizing local, regional and National level tournaments.
• Sending teams to participate in International chess tournaments.
• Affiliating to the International Braille Chess Association and represent India on International forum for blind chess.
• Organizing international tournaments, seminars etc.

Affiliations

The AICFB is affiliated to the International Braille Chess Association

International Braille Chess Association

The International Braille Chess Association is organization for blind and visually impaired chess players. The IBCA is a FIDE-affiliated chess organization as well as a part of the International Blind Sports Federation. The International Braille Chess Association was formed in 1948 by Reginald...

 (IBCA) in 1998 and All India Chess Federation

All India Chess Federation

The All India Chess Federation is central administrative body for the game of chess in India. Founded in 1951, the federation is affiliated to Fédération Internationale des Échecs, , the world body for chess...

. Through this affiliation the AICFB has been able to integrate India with the rest of the blind chess-playing world.

Affiliated states

The AICFB has a number of affiliated state bodies and more than 2500 active chess players under it all over India.

• Haryana
• Karnataka
• Punjab
• Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttaranchal
• Rajasthan
• Maharasthra
• Andhra Pradesh
• Jharkhand
• Bihar
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Orissa
• Madhya Pradesh

Events

Till now the AICFB has organized 19 Zonal levels chess tournaments, 9 National tournaments & sent Indian teams 12 times to participate in the World Chess Championship. It has also organized the first ever Asian Chess Championship in December 2003, which was the first International chess tournament in India and the 11th Individual World Chess Championship for the Blind 2006 which was held outside Europe, in India for the very first time. Sixteen Indian teams have participated in various world events in the last ten years and the last one even returned with a gold medal from the Chess Olympiad for the Blind held at Crete in October 2009. The 14th IBCA Chess Olympiad will also be hosted in India by AICFB in 2012.

Professional training program

According to Charudutta, the founder of the AICFB, the organization has identified 38 schools in 16 states to initiate a programme for professional training.