India celebrated a landmark year in chess, with D Gukesh becoming the world champion and Indian teams securing double-gold at the Chess Olympiad
Gukesh’s journey to the world title highlights India’s growing pool of talent, with players like Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi joining the global chess elite
Small-town coaching, chess academies led by Grandmasters, and school extracurricular programmes ensure young players have access to world-class training
Top players benefit from financial backing, like Gukesh’s five-year sponsorship and government support
Over Rs 2 crore was allocated to five Indian players for world title campaigns, ensuring they compete at the highest level
Affordable smartphones and data plans connect young Indians to platforms like Chess.com and Lichess, hosting millions of games daily
India’s chess story—from Anand’s Grandmaster title in 1987 to today’s global dominance—
is a lesson in how grassroots development, policy support, and infrastructure can transform a sport into a national success story