While the Indian Men and Women’s teams have taken a double gold at the Chess Olympiad, a historic feat, this journey takes years and decades to bring them where they are today. Here is a closer look at how costly this Journey of becoming a professional and a Grand Master is.
Over the past two decades, chess in India has experienced a profound resurgence, largely driven by the extraordinary accomplishments of Viswanathan Anand. Anand’s triumph in 2000, when he became the World Chess Champion, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s chess history.
His victory not only reignited national interest in the game but also served as a powerful inspiration for a new generation of players. By linking the ancient roots of chess, which originated as Chaturanga in 6th century AD India, to its modern-day prominence, Anand effectively bridged the gap between the past and the future of chess in India.
Today, Anand’s legacy is carried forward by a dynamic group of young prodigies, including Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Gukesh, who are making significant waves on the global stage. These young talents have risen rapidly through the ranks, showcasing India’s growing dominance in the world of chess.
As of now, the country boasts of 84 Chess Grandmasters, a testament to its thriving chess culture. This surge in talent and interest is also reflected in the market value of chess in India, which was estimated at an impressive USD 25.5 billion in 2022. This figure underscores the dynamic chess revolution that is currently unfolding across the nation.
The finances involved in becoming a Grandmaster
However, behind the glamor and recognition lies a path fraught with challenges. The journey to becoming a professional chess player, particularly a Grandmaster, is often marked by intense struggle and sacrifice along with a high monetary investment.
Many of India’s chess Grandmasters began their training as early as age five, dedicating countless hours to mastering the complexities of the game. The fees for engaging a coach even at that level to teach the basics of the game ranges from ₹500 to ₹1,500 per hour and if any renowned Grandmasters are involved for the coaching, the charges can go up ₹2500 to ₹3000 per hour.
As the players start chasing Grandmasters norms they need coaching support from some of the most renowned names in world chess and the fees of these expert coaches can oscillate between USD 150 to USD 200 per session (approx ₹13000 to ₹15000 per session) in which they work with players for about six to eight hours in a day. This cost gets compounded by the traveling and lodging cost of the coach or the player, three to five lakh per international tournament and ₹50,000- ₹1,00,000 nationally, depending on who is traveling to which location.
To become a Grandmaster, every player needs to earn 3 GM norms and an ELO rating of 2500. The rules of earning GM norms are not easy as the tournament they participate in needs to be of a minimum nine rounds, played over five days and the player has to face at least three GMs and players from other nationalities and register a performance rating of 2600 in the tournament.
Considering that India did not have a long list of Grandmasters, many Indian players had to travel abroad at their own cost to try and earn the GM norms. Though conditions have improved over the years and the All India Chess Federation is organising many higher rated tournaments in the country now, the entry fees to these tournaments also create a sizable dent in one’s pocket.
