Rs 42.3 lakh disbursed as AICF rolls out player stipends for top chess talents in India
Chess pieces (Photo by)
In a transformative move for Indian chess, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has rolled out its Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS), disbursing over Rs 42 lakh in the first phase to the nation's top-performing youth players.
The initiative, driven by AICF President Nitin Narang, is aimed at providing sustained financial support to India's brightest young chess minds from the grassroots level.
The scheme delivers quarterly stipends ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,50,000 directly to 42 top-ranked players in the Under-7 to Under-19 categories (both boys and girls), based on their standout performances at last year's national championships.
'This is more than just a scheme,' said Narang. 'It shows how deeply we believe in the promise of every young chess player in Bharat.'
This is the first time in Indian chess history that young players are being directly funded through a structured national stipend. The disbursed amount of Rs 42,30,000, covering the April–June 2025 quarter, is the first of many, as the scheme will continue over a two-year period with a projected outlay of over Rs 6.15 crore.
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Narang emphasised that TNPSS also aligns with the vision of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure and athlete support.
'For too long, financial constraints have cast a shadow over the aspirations of our chess players. The demands of travel, training, and international competition often forces players to abandon their passion, which is a profound loss for our nation. TNPSS is our definitive answer to these challenges, a bold stride towards a player-centric policy that empowers our youth to focus solely on honing their skills and conquering the chessboard,' he noted, adding that the scheme would also elevate the importance of national tournaments as a critical feeder system for future champions.
Among the inaugural beneficiaries are standout names across age groups such as Devanarayanan Kalliyath (U7 Open), Aaranya R (U7 Girls), Ilamparthi A R (U15 Open), and Mrittika Mallick (U19 Girls). Players have been selected from categories spanning U7 to U19, with three each in boys and girls across all divisions.
The inaugural beneficiaries of the Top National Players Stipend Scheme include:
Under 7:
Open: Devanarayanan Kalliyath, Prayank Gaonkar, Aaradhyo Guin
Girls: Aaranya R, Arpitangshi Bhattacharya, Saiaastha Singh
Under 9:
Open: Nidhish Shyamal, Aarit Kapil, Divith Reddy Adulla
Girls: Kiyanna Parihaar, Divi Bijesh, Vanshika Rawat
Under 11:
Open: Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, Advik Amit Agrawal, Aarav A
Girls: Pratitee Bordoloi, Aadya Gowda, Divi Bijesh
Under 13:
Open: Reyan Md, Sherla Prathamesh, Pranav Sai Ram R S
Girls: Saranya Devi Narahari, Nivedita V C, Nihira Koul
Under 15:
Open: Ilamparthi A R, Vaz Ethan, Sherla Prathamesh
Girls: Prishita Gupta, Jain Ashita, Saparya Ghosh
Under 17:
Open: Sriram Adarsh Uppala, Arpith S Bijoy, Jaiveer Mahendru
Girls: Tejaswini G, Kirthika B, Anupam M Sreekumar
Under 19:
Open: Adireddy Arjun, Sourath Biswas, Jaiveer Mahendru
Girls: Mrittika Mallick, Velpula Sarayu, Sneha Halder
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