Ten West Bengal players receive the Surya Ganguly Dabaru Scholarship

Ten players receive ₹50000 each

Alekhya Mukhopadhyay (2094)

16-year-old Alekhya Mukhopadhyay is a former State Under-11 champion. He finished fourth at 61st West Bengal State Senior Open 2024 a few months ago.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

I feel very grateful that I was able to win this desired scholarship of mine. It will definitely help me in my career to move forward.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

I plan on using the scholarship amount to pay expenses for future tournaments and in buying some chess books and courses. Also I plan to use some amount on meeting my chess coaching expenses if I undertake any. It will help me in these aspects to continue improving.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

No, I have not watched the movie yet but I have downloaded it in my computer and I definitely plan on watching it in the future.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you ChessBase India for giving me this scholarship and I plan to use it in the most optimum and best way possible.

Sneha Halder (2013)

Sneha Halder is the reigning Commonwealth Under-16 Girls 2023-24 and former Commonweatlh Under-9 Girls 2019 Gold medalist. She is also a former National Amateur Below 2300 Women 2023 and National Under-13 Girls 2022 champion.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

It's a matter of honour that great ChessBase India one of the best chess software program has selected Sneha Halder for the prestigious scholarship 'Dabaru'. No language to express our gratitude to you and our super GM honorable GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly the jewel of India. It's our earnest prayer to him to give some classes whenever and wherever possible

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

We have some planning to play 4 to 5 norm tournament in Europe to get at least WIM-norm to get relief from huge expenses to play GM-norm tournament.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

She has watched the movie with her mother in inox cinema hall at the presence of the best heroine of the movie and overwhelmed.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

Sir thank you so much to choose her for the scholarship.

Shankhodip De (1942)

Shankhodip De won Manha's Castle 25th Below 2000 Rating Tournament 2024 this past summer. He is a former State Under-11 Open 2019 champion and State Under-14 Open 2022 runner-up.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

We are really grateful to you.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

We would spend the scholarship amount for playing International GM tournaments and National events which usually take place in other states. Also, currently he is self-taught. This scholarship would also help us to get guidance from good coaches. Moreover, his laptop is also about seven years and if necessary we might think of buying a laptop in the near future.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

Yes, we have watched Dabaru at the Nandan theatre. I think the movie nicely depicts the struggle for chess players to play abroad.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

I have received the amount. I have no word to say anything, I am really grateful to you and ChessBase India also Surya Sekhar Ganguly Sir.

Niladri Banerjee (1924)

Niladri Banerjee secured second place at the recently concluded West Bengal State Under-17 Open 2024. He was also the runner-up at West Bengal State Under-13 Open 2023. Last year, he became the youngest ever to win West Bengal State Rapid Open 2023.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

I really feel great. Now I am hoping for my new journey, let's see how it goes.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

I have planned for my better future of my chess career - playing age group Nationals and good selected Open GM tournaments for rising Elo and incresing my strength for the first IM-norm.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

No I have not yet watched, but I would love to go. I had never gone to a movie theatre in my life. So it's my small dream to watch that, let's see. Hope to God.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

Yes, recently I have been selected for Under-17 National which will be held at Chandigarh. In State under-17 open, I finished as a runner-up with the score of 7 points out 8 rounds    and increased my elo rating to 1926 in standard. My Target is 2000 + in coming under-17 National, let's see. Thank you to GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly and ChessBase India team for these help and support towards these little talent of India. Today we have got the selected amount to us. Now the first IM-norm journey begins for Niladri, let's hope for the best.

Sinjan Roy (1734)

Sinjan Roy secured a runner-up finish at West Bengal State Under-19 Open 2023.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

As a Dabaru Scholarship winner, I feel very much grateful and happy for being selected.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

I want to utilise this money by playing on several upcoming national and international chess tournaments , which would be held in different regions of our nation.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

No, I have not watched the 'Dabaru' movie yet but I would surely watch it.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you for helping me with the Dabaru Scholarship, which would be beneficial for my improvement in the field of chess.

Maitreyi Mondal (1728)

Maitreyi Mondal won North 24 Parganas Under-13 Open District championship 2024 last month. A few days later, she finished as the runner-up of West Bengal State Under-17 Girls championship 2024. Earlier this year, she became champion at 12th National Schools Under-13 Girls 2024.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

First time, Maitreyi has been selected for a chess scholarship. So, it feels amazing. This is not just a scholarship, rather it is an encouragement of her hard work and efforts. This will inspire her for her future endeavours.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

She is a selected player for the forthcoming Asian Schools Chess Champioship 2024 which will be held in Thailand. So, we have a plan to utilize the money for the foreign trip. If not possible, some parts of the money will utilize for attending a good national level tournament and rest of the part will utilize for her advance chess training under reputed IM/GM to improve her strength.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

No, we didn't get time to watch the movie due to attend tournaments and my office schedule. But definitely, we have a wish to watch the movie.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

I am really thankful to HelpChess - the ChessBase India foundation for this scholarship. It means a lot for us. It will boost her to plan to achieve his goal.

Swapnabha Neogi (1674)

Swapnabha Neogi secured runner-up position at North 24 Parganas Under-13 Open District championship 2024. Earlier this year, he finished third at 12th National Schools Under-13 Open 2024.

1. How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

I feel motivated in being selected for the scholarship. I am very happy to get this. And this is the first scholarship in my life that I am getting.

2. How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

1. I will buy good chess books.

2. I will buy ChessBase 17 for training and storing analysis

3. I will go to play rated chess tournaments or nationals which are outside of West Bengal

4. I will try to undergo advanced training courses for further improvements in chess, if possible.

3. Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

Yes, I have watched the movie 'Dabaru' 3-4 times.

4. Would you like to add anything else?

The 'Dabaru' movie is a very inspiring movie which motivated me to play good chess. It relaxes my mind and keeps me calm and motivated for my games. It is really a brilliant chess movie of India and of West Bengal. It showed the struggle of a chess player to reach success which teaches us that hard work with discipline can only lead us to success.

Shruti Sarkar (1467)

8-year-old Shruti Sarkar is a former West Bengal State Under-9 Girls and State Under-7 Girls champion. She won State U-7 title in her sixth tournament. Before that, she finished third in both State Under-10 and Under-8 Girls championships 2022.

How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

Winning this scholarship means a lot to me. It’s not just financial support; it’s encouraged me to do further hard work and dedication to the game I love a lot. I feel honoured and motivated to continue my chess journey.

How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

I plan to invest it in further improving my chess skills, by attending more coaching sessions, buying chess books and participating in tournaments.

Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

Yes, I have watched it, Surya Shekhar Ganguly was already our idol and now has become my hero. I found it inspiring that if he can do it from that situation I am also able to do it. However, I'm a little bit disappointed not to see another part of life with Anand sir.

Would you like to add anything else?

I want to express my gratitude to ChessBase India for this opportunity.

Asmita Biswas (1459)

Asmita Biswas won West Bengal State Under-9 Girls 2022.

How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

I am feeling very lucky.

How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

I have planned that I will take training from a good coach from this Scholarship.

Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

I have seen this Dabaru movie at Nandan Cinema hall on 03/06/2024.

Ankit Ganguly (1403)

11-year-old Ankit Ganguly is a hearing impaired (deaf) chess player. Last year he won his first tournament in Kolkata, West Bengal.

How do you feel being selected for the scholarship?

Thank you very much for considering my application for this Dabaru Scholarship. Dabaru scholarship is very helpful for my son Ankit Ganguly. Ankit is very happy to selected for the Dabaru scholarship.

How do you plan on utilizing the scholarship amount?

The amount of this scholarship will be used to improve the game of chess. This amount will help to participate in state and national level rating tournaments.

Have you watched 'Dabaru' movie yet? If not, do you plan on watching it?

I have watched the movie thrice with the entire family and enjoyed it so much.

Would you like to add anything else?

Surya Shekhar Ganguly is truly an inspiration for all chess player, may success follow you every step of the way, we are very proud of GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly.

Related news:

	"You should never attack an unarmed king" - An Honest review of Dabaru, A movie based on the life of GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly @ 31/05/2024 by Aditya Sur Roy (en)
	দাবাড়ু (Dabaru) movie inspired by the life of Surya Sekhar Ganguly is out now on theaters @ 14/05/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	The Surya Ganguly Dabaru Scholarship: Supporting ten young Chess talents from West Bengal @ 10/05/2024 by Himank Ghosh (en)