New Delhi: In India’s growing quest to become a sporting nation, chess stands at a turning point. Fresh off celebrating R VaishaliVictory in the 2026 Women’s Candidates, the country is now looking forward to an even bigger celebration as both Vaishali and Gokesh prepare for their World Championship matches. For many, this feels like a make-or-break phase, which could shape the future of India’s ambitions in chess for years to come. The 64-over game is truly on the rise, clearly taking its place in a cricket-dominated nation.Just last week, eight-year-old Tamiz Amodhan from Tamil Nadu became an overnight sensation after defeating World No. 7 Vincent Kaymer in an online tournament. What fueled its virality was a photo of the child playing by candlelight while the battery ran out on a laptop connected to his father’s mobile hotspot.
While nothing should take away from the significance of his victory over one of the world’s best players, playing at hotspots during load shedding and blackouts are just the tip of the iceberg of the logistical and financial nightmares that often befall these chess stars of tomorrow and their families.
‘Parent Tax’ in Chess
Whether you’re playing on your mobile, tablet, computer or from the comfort of your home, chess is accessible. But the moment you step out to compete seriously, it starts burning your bank balance. Ask Yatan Sarbalya, father of 12-year-old FIDE Master (FM) Aarav Sarbalya, and watch him explain a financial black hole that is swallowing his family’s future.“Financially, everything is coming from our savings,” Yatan told TimesofIndia.com. “Whatever savings we have is slowly being depleted, and no new savings are being created. It’s definitely a problem.”
Aarao Sarbalia (Special Arrangements)
Entry into the elite circle for just three or four European tours costs at least Rs 12-15 lakh a year.Because the players are minors, the cost is always double, a “parental tax” that must be paid.“I go on one trip, my wife goes on the other, so my office work is not affected much. Meanwhile, one of us manages our daughter at home,” explained Yatan.
Bureaucratic nonsense there too
Despite having money in hand, the way to the board is blocked by bureaucratic stupidity. Yatten can still recall the Kafkaesque visa interview at the Hungarian embassy that serves as a reminder of where the system needs improvement.Despite being the national runner-up in his age group, Aarao was treated like a fraud. “They interviewed Aarav and said he didn’t know chess,” Yatan recalled. “They asked him historical questions like: ‘Who is the father of chess? Who is the mother of chess? Who is the king of chess?’ Then he told me that he doesn’t know the game.It’s a unique humiliation for Indian chess parents, who have to prove their child’s genius to a clerk who doesn’t even know a pin from a fork, while thousands of rupees hang in the balance on non-refundable flights.
Sponsorships like Oil India or BPCL usually start at 16 years. But if young children are doing well, why not for them?
Surendra Lahuti, father of Arini Lahuti, Delhi’s under-7 champion
The toll extends to the streets of foreign cities. There is no guidance for parents, and tuition fees are paid in scams.“People learn from mistakes. We wasted a lot of unnecessary money learning things the hard way, where not to book a cab, when to use Uber, where the scams are,” reveals Yatan, who lives in Bengaluru. In the absence of a support system, parents are left to navigate the web of predatory taxi drivers and logistics in foreign countries.“That kind of knowledge sharing is very limited. Parents usually don’t have practical knowledge of tournament logistics. You learn by cheating.”
Then why don’t they play in India?
When parents try to save money by playing in India, they hit a different wall. In order for a player to achieve normality (IM/GM titles required), the tournament must maintain a strict ranking average. In India, organizers often prioritize participation fees over professional integrity.“Overseas, if a tournament says ‘above 2100,’ it means strictly above 2100,” Yatton explained. “In India, at the last minute, many 1800 or 1900-ranked players are allowed in. This reduces the normal chances significantly.”
Arini Lahuti (Special Arrangements)
This bait and switch forces parents back to the airport. Why spend weeks playing tournament after tournament in Pune, Delhi or Chennai if the coveted routine is mathematically impossible before the first pawn is moved?Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M, a well-known coach in Chennai and well-versed in what goes on in typical tournaments in India, acknowledges the practical difficulties for the organisers.“If some two or three players cancel, the whole tournament and the routine becomes a bit of a mess,” he told the website, describing it as a delicate system where one player’s absence can invalidate a year’s worth of work.
Why not play for India?
Vikram Rawat, an IT professional in Delhi and father of Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 girls’ under-10 gold medalist Vinshika Rawat, says his family’s experience on the international circuit revealed the grim reality behind the game’s glamour.He said that when we returned from Kuala Lumpur after winning the Commonwealth, nothing changed in the world. “I felt that for the same amount (Rs 2-2.5 lakh) you can go to Europe, get exposure, and raise your rating (by playing better players). You don’t get the tag of ‘representing the country’, but for us, medals don’t change.”
Vanshika Rawat (Special Arrangements)
Surendra Lahuti, father of one of the country’s youngest FIDE-rated players and Delhi’s under-7 champion, Arini Lahuti, sums up the frustration of the early stage grind. “Sponsorships like Oil India or BPCL usually start at 16. But if the younger kids are doing well, why not them?” he asked.
Poll
Should chess tournaments in India maintain strict player ranking averages?
The lack of support has reached a point where many parents are reconsidering whether they can afford to take their children to international tournaments representing India.“Obviously, it was a children’s age category tournament, so I wasn’t expecting massive media coverage. But at least at the federation level, to encourage the kids, there is no mention anywhere, neither from the state federation nor the national federation,” Vikram said.“As parents, it forces you to make tough decisions. For example, this year we’re not even planning to travel, and it was a very tough call. This year is Commonwealth 2026, and I’ve already told Vinshika that we might not go.Also read: Vincent Kemmer Exclusive: Germany being No. 1, the threat of Magnus Carlsen, freestyle chess, and more“This decision comes from what I have learned from watching senior players from them. Even after winning nationals, many of them choose not to play this tournament for the country as the expenses eventually double or triple.”In this gloomy hour, Shyam Sunder saw a change coming as he said, “I see a positive trend…in Mumbai, Gujarat, and Madurai. More and more Indian title holders, IMs and GMs have started playing these Indian Open events. I am sure we will see many regular tournaments in India itself.”
