Nepal, May 17 -- Manish Hamal made headlines in the year 2008 for being the first Nepali to earn an FM norm. His achievement paved way for an entire generation of Nepali chess players.

In the war of Kurukshetra battle troops were tabulated on the unit of "Akshauhini". One "akshauhini" comprised of 500,000 warriors, 21,870 chariots and elephants each, 65,610 horses and 109,350 infantry. The ideal ratio, thus, in one "akshauhini" is one chariot: one elephant: three cavalry: five infantry soldiers. Emulating this very structure, an ancient strategic game by name of Chaturanga developed in the Indian subcontinent. It employed the use of small figurines to represent the elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry and was played on checkered bo...