Checkmate in Jharkhand: Chess politics forces veteran IM to relocate
Dhanbad, April 9: In a major blow to Jharkhand’s chess community, International Master (IM) and International Arbiter Neeraj Kumar Mishra has officially…
NEERAJ MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 9: In a major blow to Jharkhand’s chess community, International Master (IM) and International Arbiter Neeraj Kumar Mishra has officially cut ties with the state after decades of contribution to the sport’s growth. The veteran chess player and coach, who served in multiple roles for over 35 years, has now shifted base to Kolkata, citing suffocating internal politics within the Jharkhand Chess Association (JCA).
A Storied Career Undermined by Infighting
Neeraj Mishra holds the rare distinction of being only the second Indian to attain the dual titles of International Master and International Arbiter. He served as Secretary of the Jharkhand Chess Association across five terms from 2005 to 2022 and played a pivotal role in nurturing chess at both grassroots and professional levels.
On April 3, 2025, the JCA formally issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC), paving the way for Mishra’s departure from Jharkhand.
A Coach of International Repute
As a coach to the Indian national team, Mishra has travelled globally, guiding junior players in international tournaments. His contributions to Indian chess have been widely acknowledged across states, with offers pouring in from Bihar, Odisha, and others. However, he chose to return to Kolkata, a city where he had earlier nurtured several junior champions.
“This is a major setback for the state,” said a founding member of the JCA. “Neeraj wasn’t just an International Master and top-tier coach, but also a respected sports administrator.”
Roots in Jamshedpur, Rise to State Leadership
Mishra began his formal chess journey with Tata Steel Chess Centre in Jamshedpur in 1990. Recognising his potential, senior figures in East Singhbhum’s chess circuit brought him into administrative roles by 1996. Following the bifurcation of Bihar in 2000, he was appointed as Jharkhand’s state secretary in 2005, a role he held until 2011 and resumed again later.
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Tensions and Power Struggles Begin
Trouble brewed in 2011 with growing rifts between Mishra and the Jamshedpur faction of the JCA. He later aligned with Dhanbad’s chess body and was instrumental in bringing BJP leader Pradeep Verma (now an MP) on board as president to strengthen the association financially.
However, the political shift backfired. As Verma took control, reshuffling the entire organisational structure with his loyalists, Mishra was gradually sidelined. On December 31, 2022, he formally resigned as secretary. Even his close ally, Pritam Singh, defected to the Verma camp, with Manish Kumar taking over as the new secretary.
Founders and Veterans Overlooked
As the JCA’s headquarters moved from Jamshedpur to Ranchi, several long-serving contributors, including Ranchi-based pioneer JK Sinha, found themselves excluded from key roles. Meanwhile, figures like Mr. Choubey in Dumka continued to retain influence at the district level.
