Chess Proven to Boost Adolescent Personality Development: Dr. Makarand Velankar in his Research
Pune, 28th August 2026: Chess is not merely a competitive sport but can serve as an effective tool for the holistic personality development of adolescents, according to the findings of a PhD study conducted by Dr. Makarand Velankar. His doctoral research, titled “A Descriptive Study on the Impact of Chess Training on Adolescents’ Self-Confidence and Critical Thinking Ability,” was completed at Sri Balaji University, Pune, under the guidance of Dr. Rashmi Mahajan.
The research involved 612 students between the ages of 10 and 19 years, in accordance with the World Health Organization’s definition of adolescence, along with 478 parents. Data was collected from chess-playing students and their parents across Pune district. In addition to students’ experiences, the study placed significant emphasis on parents’ observations. The research examined the influence of factors such as gender, duration of playing chess, and the mode of chess training. It also documented parents’ views on the cognitive and psychological abilities that develop through chess.
The findings revealed that students who had been playing chess regularly for one to three years or longer demonstrated significantly lower intellectual and emotional fatigue compared to those who had been playing for less than a year. The study also found that students who received structured chess coaching under trained instructors displayed greater mental stability than those who learned informally through friends, relatives, or social media.
The analysis of parents’ responses produced equally significant insights. According to parents, students who played chess regularly over an extended period showed reduced mental stress and demonstrated stronger strategic thinking, analytical decision-making, leadership qualities, predictive ability, and self-confidence. The research highlighted that the longer students remained engaged with chess, the more pronounced the positive development in their personality traits became.
Prior to his doctoral research, Dr. Velankar had completed an M.Phil. dissertation on “The Impact of Chess on Family and Society.” Encouraged by the positive findings of that study, he chose to explore the broader role of chess in personality development through his PhD research. Notably, the entire doctoral thesis was submitted in Marathi, with the objective of making the developmental benefits of chess accessible to parents, teachers, and students across Maharashtra.
Speaking about his research, Dr. Makarand Velankar said, “Today, chess is largely viewed as a competitive sport. However, my research clearly demonstrates that when learned through proper training, chess helps develop self-confidence, critical thinking, leadership qualities, and sound decision-making abilities in children. With the aim of promoting personality development through chess, I plan to introduce initiatives such as the ‘Chess for Self-Development’ curriculum, ‘Chess Therapy,’ and the ‘Chess Literacy Campaign.’ Through these efforts, I hope to contribute towards building a generation that is confident, thoughtful, and capable of making informed decisions.”
Dr. Velankar has developed a dedicated “Chess for Self-Development” curriculum and has long been practicing the innovative concept of “Chess Therapy. He believes this approach can help address stubborn behaviour, depression, problem-solving skills, positive thinking, concentration, the development of slow learners, reducing impulsive behaviour, and instilling the confidence to believe, “I can win.” He also plans to launch the Chess Literacy Campaign, the Chess Family initiative, and organize workshops and lectures for schools, women, senior citizens, and various social organizations.
Dr. Makarand Velankar is Pune’s first National Arbiter and the first researcher from Pune to earn a PhD in the field of chess. Through the Velankar Chess Institute, established in 1986, he has trained more than 3,000 students in chess, many of whom have achieved success at the national level. Through Buddhibal Prasarak Mandal, he has organized several initiatives, including the first Jallosh Chess League, medicinal tree plantation drives by sportspersons, chess coaching for tribal children, school visits by Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, and medical cards for sportspersons, among other outreach programmes.
