Chess sells itself as a contest of calculation, where chance has been removed. Yet some elite players keep lucky pens, repeat outfits and meals, or give a cat a place in their pre-game routine. The interesting question is not whether a charm can change a position on the board; it is why people reach for one when the result matters and control feels limited.

What does it take to build a chess community where there was none? In Bhadohi, it took two cousins, a handful of borrowed boards and ten young women willing to teach what they had just learned. This is the story of Checkmate Her Limits, and of the mentors leading it. Checkmate Her Limits, launched by Shreejan Learning Hub on January 1, 2026, aims to empower these young girls and teach them chess.

“Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man,” Swami Vivekananda once wrote. Education, therefore, is not just about textbook knowledge, but about bringing out the potential within every student. This idea comes alive in the work of Sandip Upadhyay, a government school teacher from Gujarat who teaches chess absolutely free of cost. He has helped several young players begin their journeys in competitive chess, with some going on to become rated players. Read on to discover Sandip’s story and the journeys of the players he has helped nurture.

Kings Chess Academy will host a four-day chess masterclass with Coach Lokeswara Rao in Hyderabad from October 7 to 10, 2026. Titled “ A Practical Approach to Decoding Invisible Moves, ” the programme, intended for players with a rating of 2000 or higher, will focus on finding hidden moves, intermediate moves, and subtle resources that can be difficult to figure out, even for strong players. The four-day programme costs Rs. 8,000 and has a maximum of 15 participants to support focused discussion and individual attention. Registration closes on October 6 at 5:00 PM. Photos: Lokeswara Rao

What exactly makes a Grandmaster title different from a Woman Grandmaster title? And if women are allowed to earn the same GM title as men, why does a separate system exist at all? We take a look at where women’s chess titles came from, how they work, and why FIDE still has them today.

Talent is not exclusive to big cities. Many children from small towns and villages possess exceptional talent and potential. One of those children is Ayansh Singh. Access and privilege can be extremely important in competitive chess, especially once a player moves beyond the beginner level. Talent matters, but talent needs an ecosystem in which it can actually develop. The article explores the journey of Ayansh, who has now been selected to represent India at the World Under-10 Chess Championship and the Asian Under-10 Chess Championship. Photos: Ram Bilas Singh.

The PICA Chess Festival 2026 was organised by PICA Chess Academy, founded by Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Pratyusha Bodda. The festival brought together chess players across different age groups and playing strengths, featuring a series of events with Blitz, Rapid and Classical time controls. The PICA Festival witnessed participation from more than 900 players, making it a major gathering of competitive chess. With hundreds of players competing across 64 squares, the festival provided an opportunity for participants to test their skills, gain valuable tournament experience and compete for prizes.|Photo: Pratyusha Bodda.

Vishwa E emerged as the champion of the Viyugam Chess Academy International FIDE-rated Below 1700 Chess Tournament 2026, scoring 7.5 points from nine rounds. Held in Chennai from 4 to 6 September, the tournament brought together 395 players from three federations and featured a ₹6 lakh prize fund, 139 trophies and three laptops. Gokul Nandan Reddy Bhumireddy and Muthu Vignesh G also scored 7.5 points to finish second and third, respectively.| Photos: Shivaranjini.

Shakya Singha Modak wins the 1st ATCA Challengers Fide Rating Chess Tournament 2026 with 8.5/9 points to finish an entire point ahead. FM Kumar Gaurav finishes second with 7.5/9 points and Kinkar Roy finishes third with 7.5/9 points as well.| Photos: Prasanta Kundu

IM Girinath P.D.S. emerged as the clear winner of the Capa Chess Academy’s 6th International FIDE-rated Open Chess Tournament 2026, scoring an unbeaten 8/9 to finish a full half-point ahead of the field. Ayyappan P Santhana Prabu finished second with 7.5/9. Vijay Shreeram P also scored 7.5/9 to claim third place. |Photos: Capa Chess Academy.