How chess replaced gambling in the coastal village of Neerodi

There are many stories about chess changing individual lives. This one is about a small coastal village in Tamil Nadu, called Neerodi, where the game slowly changed everyday habits. For years, the village was known for gambling. When chess entered the scene, it brought a new way to spend time. The change slowly started becoming visible through IA Ephrame’s “Chess Replaces Gambling” project. With the dedication of Jain Marlet, chess reached more children and families across the village. Today, the change is visible in the choices people make in the village.