Janelle Albury: super chess parent and supporter … in India

By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org)
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In today’s interview we will be talking with Janelle who travelled to this year’s Chess Olympiad as a supportive parent of her son Noah, who is representing The Bahamas at the 44th Chess Olympiad.  Janelle give a spectator’s view of this highly regarded chess event.

Interviewer:  I understand that you are in Chennai.  Where exactly is Chennai and what takes you there?
 
Janelle:  Chennai is in India, eastern India to be exact.  I am here because my son, Noah Albury, is playing in the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad as a member of The Bahamas Open Team.  The Chess Olympiad is similar to the Olympics.  It is a chess tournament, held every two years, in which teams representing nations of the world compete in chess. One hundred and eighty-seven (187) countries are participating in this Olympiad.  The best of the best in chess are in India playing in this Olympiad:- Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Vishy Anand and R. Praggnanandhaa just to name a few.

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Players Hall entrance. Players only allowed. Streams of players from various countries stream in

Interviewer:  One might say that you are far away from home.  What was it like travelling to India during a pandemic?
 
Janelle:  Might say?  We are far away from home.  It took us some 20 hours to travel from Nassau to Chennai, that does not include layovers and check in times.  Our route was Nassau to JFK NYC, JFK NYC to Dubai (we were originally supposed go through Qatar but because of late arrival into JFK from Nassau we missed all our connecting flights and had to spend the night in JFK airport, but that is a story for another time).  Then we took a flight from Dubai to Chennai.
 
Travelling to India during a pandemic was fine once I overcame the Covid psychological barrier.  Once I put myself in the mindset that this was something we were committed to doing and took all the Covid precautions I was comfortable.  And once I think my children, my 11-year-old daughter is also travelling with us, saw I was at ease they were comfortable.

Positive and restful after missing the connecting flight from New York City to Qatar

Interviewer:  At which point did you realize that your son was interested in chess and what were some of the changes that you had to make initially to accommodate his interest?
 
Janelle:  I realized he was interested in chess when I saw my son teaching chess to my daughter. He was 12 and I did not even know that he knew chess.  Apparently in grade 6 his teacher Mrs. Coley invited all the students in her class to teach a skill to a fellow student.  His friend John taught him basic chess moves.  Noah was so good at teaching his sister that I immediately realized he had a gift for chess, although I did not know the game, and I emailed every contact that came up when I goggled chess coaches in The Bahamas to find out how I could book lessons.
 
When did I know he was hooked on chess is a different question.  I knew this when I observed how driven but more importantly how happy he was when he was playing chess or in the company of members of the local chess community.

Janelle's son, Noah, being blessed and welcomed upon our arrival

Interviewer:  The Chess Olympiad is probably the largest team chess competition globally. What were your expectations attending your first Olympiad and have any of them been met? 
 
Janelle:  My expectations were that this experience would be a once in a lifetime experience.  I was not entirely sure what to expect but I knew that if would be a learning and growth experience for us all.  My expectations were high when preparing for this trip and the trip has exceeded all my expectations.
Three of these positive, lifechanging experiences are:

1.  The 44th Chess Olympiad has been very organized.  This is a global, high-level event and it is evident that a lot of time and money have gone into organizing this event.
2. The fierce competition and angst of the chess Olympiad as with any sport.  The Competition is high and what it takes for a player both mentally and physically is a lot.
3. The exposure not only to India’s culture but also to the cultures of all the other participants who one has the opportunity to interact with.

 
Interviewer:  What are the conditions/provisions (environment) for spectators especially parents?
 
Janelle:  There is an app called FollowChess where spectators can view and follow games.  At the Tournament site there is also a spectator spot where one can sit to view games from the sidelines.  There are very strict guidelines to enter this spectator space: no cell phones or cameras allowed.  Those items must be checked in before entry and security checks bags for these items.  I had a chess magazine in my bag, and they made me check that into storage as well.  There are also jumbo screens set up all around the tournament site streaming games live, but those screens only stream the top tier countries.
 
I kept myself occupied by walking around the tournament site, there is lots to see.  There is an exhibition hall, a food court offering Indian and international foods, live performances and games on the outdoor lawn and chess presentation on topics such as the Social Impact of Chess and Women in Chess.  Furthermore, there are other parents here namely Angela Pride, mother of Chika Pride, Bahamas Women's Olympiad Team and Harold and Shirlene Watson, grandparents of Jayla Cargilll, member of The Bahamas Women's Olympiad Team.   

Janelle in front of Women in Chess Exhibition at tournament site Exhibition Hall

Interviewer:  Finally, would you recommend chess as an activity for children to other parents?

Janelle:  I definitely would recommend chess to other parents.  Of course the benefits of chess are well documented. These benefits include development of analytical skills, cognitive skills, strategic thinking skills and increase in focus.  I was having a discussion with GM Renier Gonzales, Captain/Coach of The Bahamas Olympiad Open Team and he put it aptly in these words: - “You do not have to be smart to play chess. Chess makes you smarter.”
 
Chess also offers opportunities for young people to travel and discover the world, fully paid, to play chess.
 
 
Interviewer:     Do you have any photos you wish to share?