The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has announced financial assistance to 42 promising young Indian players to help them continue the game without worrying about the cost of education and competition.On World Chess Day, the organization released a quarterly scholarship amounting to Rs 42.3 lakh for players aged Under 7 to 19, in both Open and Girls categories. The players were selected based on their performance in the 2024 National Championship, each of them will receive between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Calling it a very important contribution, AICF President Nitin Narang said, “Today is International Chess Day, and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) is ready to release another portion of the quarterly prize money, ranging from ₹ 60,000 to ₹ 1,50,000, totaling ₹ 42,30,000, to the top 42 U1 and 9 players in the 2024 National Championships.”Highlighting the importance of this project, he added, “This is the first time in the history of Indian chess that our players and prodigies are receiving such financial support, so they should not give up their passion due to financial constraints.”According to the association, the money should cover training and travel expenses, enabling young players to compete in international tournaments and improve their game. Narang said, “This training will help them in training and travel, make them compete in the world and achieve high goals with confidence.”He said that this program is part of AICF’s long-term mission to build a strong grassroots network, saying, “This is part of AICF’s mission to create a strong chess ecosystem in India, guided by the vision of Aadarniya Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji to empower and encourage grassroots athletes.”Encouraging aspiring players to play, he concluded, “If chess is your dream, chase it. We’re here for you.”
