How Chola Chess is making an impact on Indian chess

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 28/03/2026

Chola Chess was launched in July 2025 with a clear vision to nurture young talent in India. In a short span, it has conducted 99 camps and trained over 1300 players. It provides a space for promising players to train under experienced coaches. They are set to organise five more camps from April 1 to 5, taking the total number of camps past the 100 mark. Read the article to know how Chola Chess is making a difference. Photos: Chola Chess

Space for India's top chess players

If you have been following Indian chess closely, you might have started hearing the name Chola Chess more and more often. And if you haven’t yet, now is a good time to get familiar with it. It is an initiative by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, along with Chess Gurukul, led by GM R.B. Ramesh and WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy. The academy's goal is to identify and nurture promising young chess players in India. They are trying to provide the right guidance, environment, and support to talented players in India. The academy is based in Chennai and is working towards becoming a world-class training centre for aspiring players.

What makes Chola Chess different?

First, the trainers focus on players who are already showing strong potential and give them the kind of training that can actually move the needle. Second, it is not limited to chess alone. Along with game preparation, players are also introduced to fitness routines and disciplined schedules. After all, modern chess is as much about stamina and mindset as it is about moves on the board. Third, the program is being run consistently and at scale. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, all of this is provided completely free of cost! Everyone knows how costly it is to get access to high-quality training. It's great how Chola Chess has removed this hurdle entirely.

Chola Chess Academy tour by IM Sagar Shah. | Video: ChessBase India

Testimonials from some of the participants of the Chola Chess camp. | Video: ChessBase India

What has Chola Chess done so far?

This is where it starts to get impressive. From January 2025 to March 2026, Chola Chess has conducted 99 camps and trained over 1300 players! A quick look at the numbers gives a clear picture of how consistently these camps have been conducted:

Month/ Year	No of Camps	No of Participants
Jan 2025	6	93
Feb 2025	8	104
Mar 2025	5	76
Apr 2025	6	73
May 2025	8	85
Jun 2025	6	58
Jul 2025	6	70
Aug 2025	5	71
Sep 2025	7	104
Oct 2025	11	160
Nov 2025	6	69
Dec 2025	6	56
Jan 2026	5	80
Feb 2026	6	83
Mar 2026	8	118
Total	99	1300

Can you spot the familiar face?

Some well-known players were a part of these camps. See if you can spot them!

Clue: She became the National U-7 Girls Champion in 2023.

Clue: She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold at the Chess Olympiad.

Clue: These two players were part of India’s gold medal-winning team at the 2024 Chess Olympiad.

Clue: She is the first Woman International Master from North East India.

Chola Chess recently organised the first Chola Chess International GM Norm Round Robin Tournament 2026 in February this year. It was held from 3rd to 11th February in Chennai. The tournament was designed specifically to help players achieve Grandmaster norms.

It featured a strong field of 10 players, including International Masters from India and Grandmasters from abroad. | Photo: Himank Ghosh

No.	Title	Name	FideID	FED	Rtg
1	IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	25072846	IND	2533
2	IM	Vaz, Ethan	25940783	IND	2518
3	GM	Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	3503631	PAR	2511
4	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher	13707833	KAZ	2500
5	GM	Girel, Joseph	36033561	FRA	2499
6	GM	Boyer, Mahel	45102422	FRA	2486
7	IM	Mayank, Chakraborty	25659766	IND	2473
8	IM	Harsh, Suresh	45018464	IND	2443
9	IM	Audi, Ameya	25034430	IND	2418
10	IM	Borgaonkar, Akshay	25639110	IND	2381

Participants of the Chola Chess GM Norm Round Robin Tournament.

This was a good initiative for Indian chess. Because norm events are usually held outside India. By bringing this tournament to Chennai, Chola Chess created a valuable opportunity for Indian players to compete at a high level without needing to travel abroad.

Alisher Suleymenov from Kazakhstan won the tournament with 6/9 score. | Photo: Chola Chess

The next milestone

From April 1 to 5, 2026, Chola Chess is set to conduct five more camps. They will be special as they will mark the 100th to 104th camps conducted under this initiative.

Players fully immersed in the session!

Guidance from a coach who has shaped some of India’s best players.

Aarthie Ramaswamy, who is closely involved in the program, engaging with the players and sharing her insights.

Players and coaches, all part of the Chola Chess camp experience.

Along with chess, physical training is also a key part of the program.

How these 4 individuals came together to launch the Chola Chess initiative. | Video: ChessBase India

Indian chess is growing rapidly, and we are seeing new talents emerge every year. But for that growth to sustain, players need access to the right training, exposure, and support at an early stage. Initiatives like Chola Chess are helping bridge that gap. We hope this kind of support continues to reach more players across the country!