With BOSM right around the corner, the BOSM English Press sat down with Manthan Kashyap Datta, the chess team Captain, to learn more about the team’s preparations for the fest.

Manthan elucidated the various formats of chess—classical, lasting about four to five hours; rapid, with 15 minutes of play-time to each player and a ten-second increment; and blitz, lasting for around ten minutes. For BOSM 2025, he said that the team would be following a semi-rapid and semi-classical format with 25 minutes of playtime and a 30-second increment to each player. He noted that this system allowed the player ample time to think without stretching the duration of a game. He admitted that not everyone can sit down for long games because of the ‘lack of attention spans’. In addition to that format, there would also be a blitz event. Both are to be played in teams of four, with each team also having a substitute, making up a total of five players per team. Manthan also mentioned that the chess Team would be organising an exhibition event this time in BOSM and asked the general public to keep an eye out for it.

Manthan explained that training in chess focused on the three stages of the game: the endgame, the middle game and the openings. While most players use similar tactics in the end and middle games, the openings are completely personalised to each player. 

Speaking of their rivals, he said VIT was one of the contenders they faced a lot due to the large size of their team. Manthan also named IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi as some colleges which they have faced multiple times in the past. He particularly wished that IIT Delhi would return to face them in this edition of BOSM—they were unable to last year—as it was always a ‘fun’ match against them. 

When asked about their past performances, he noted that the team had achieved the gold medal every BOSM in the last four years. In the collegiate games, the A team won gold in the Indian Division II games and the International Division IV games. The team had also won gold at IIIT Delhi a couple of years back. Manthan said that in terms of performance, the team was easily in the top ten performing colleges in the country and probably in the top three, among engineering colleges.

Talking about the setbacks faced, Manthan said that chess is a sport which required a relaxed environment to play in. However, their current room was shared with another club. Since their room could not be locked due to being shared, it attracted other groups to also use the space, who, he noted, left food and other waste behind them. He added that during the summers, it was quite ‘unbearable’ to play chess there as the ventilation was subpar. He hoped that by the end of his tenure, the situation would improve.

Manthan said that his journey as a captain had been quite pleasant. He mentioned that the Sports Union Council had been quite helpful, and the chess team had become like a family to him.

On a parting note, Manthan spoke of the tournaments they organised specifically for the GBM to participate in and encouraged people to play chess.