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The HelpChess Fundraiser during Tata Steel Chess 2025

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 24/01/2025

The HelpChess Foundation was established on 21st June 2018 to financially support Indian chess players. Since its foundation, it has raised over Rs. 1 crore with the help of thousands of donors. We have been able to support many players in their journey in some ways from the generous donations. Every year, our mission is to help more players than before. Previously, we have raised funds during important tournaments like the World Cup 2023 (Rs. 12,58,827.55) and the 45th Chess Olympiad (Rs. 10,26,577.13). This year, we are starting the fundraising with the Tata Steel Chess 2025 tournament. Read the article to learn how you can contribute and find the complete list of contributions made since the start of the tournament.

About the HelpChess Foundation

HelpChess Foundation works for the betterment of Indian chess players. Over the last 6 years, the funds raised have been used to offer financial and technical support to the players in need. Some players received high-level training, while some received laptops for their training. HelpChess is committed to boosting the careers of our talented chess players. We are excited to see a strong response from supporters during the Tata Steel Chess livestreams.

Participants of Tata Steel Chess 2025 - Masters section | Photo: Frans Peeters
Imagine a young chess player with immense potential, but unable to pursue their dreams because their family can’t afford the financial demands of the game. When the players progress in their journey, the financial burden increases, making it very hard to keep up. That’s why, many leave their dreams for this very reason. But what if you could be the one to make a difference in their journey by contributing, even just a little?

We have supported 14 players with 14 good-quality laptops!

How can you contribute? 

You can go to the official website www.helpchess.org. Become a believer or a big believer in Indian chess after contributing to the cause. If you donate anything above Rs. 50,000, then you become a Big Believer! 

When you go to the HelpChess.org website, you will see two options where you can contribute to becoming a believer...

... or a big believer.


Impact of your contribution:

First and most important, the money will be utilized for a deserving chess player. However, there will be different perks after becoming a believer and a big believer.


Perks of becoming a Believer:

1. Scholarship money goes to a player in need (selected by HelpChess)
2. Mention in HelpChess blogs (like this one!) and fund report
3. Certificate of Appreciation
4. Regular updates on the players who are sponsored

Perks of Becoming a Big Believer:

1. Scholarship in your name to any player of your choice (if you have a preference)

2. Exclusive Invite to play HelpChess Simul with a top grandmaster

3. Certificate of Appreciation

4. 1:1 Interaction & regular updates on the player you sponsor

Each and every person who contributes immediately gets this certificate of appreciation in their inbox.

A receipt that will help you claim 80G tax benefits when you file your income tax return.

Details of the people who have contributed

The general layout of the ChessBase India streams for the Tata Steel Chess 2025

Right below the video of Amruta is a widget which updates with the name and amount of the people who have contributed

At ChessBase India, we have always believed in the highest level of transparency when it comes to raising funds for chess players. We want to ensure that each and every penny that you contribute is used in an appropriate manner. Below we have a list of viewers who have contributed during different days of the Tata Steel Chess 2025 livestream through the HelpChess website. A big thank you to each one of you and we hope to be able to raise maximum funds so that we can help many more young talents reach their dreams of becoming a grandmaster for the country and beyond.


18th January 2025

Name  Amount (Rs.)
Sagar Shah 100.57
Harsh Narayan  498.93
Rishiv Bawa 100.57
Abhijit Mishra 498.93
Harmandeep singh 100.57
Adit Sarkar 99.58
Karthik Rameshkumar 970.74
Venkatesh Srinivasan 497.94
Arjun 497.94
Mokshith 497.94
Jayesh k shah 497.94
Sambasivan Ganesan 4979.6
Deeksha Arora 199.2
Suraj Gattani 796.72
Sourav Acharya 99.58
Nabh choudhary 3585.32
Tharun Reddy 248.97
Akhilesh 508.9
shubham saraf 497.94
avant jain 498.93
Pranil Acharya 99.58
Shabarinath 498.93
Anuska Roy 99.58
Sandeep Roy  4979.6
Naveen prakash 497.94
Prasad Lele 485.37
Krishna Mohan 497.94
krish bharara 149.39
George Jacob  995.92
Kaustubh Bhagwat 995.92
Karthik Budigere Ramakrishna 996.91
Bhakti Mahata 99.58
Prateek 497.94
Sandeep Kumar M 97.09
Total 26768.5

19th January 2025

Name Amount (Rs.)
Aravind S. Kumar 497.94
Siddharth Nair 490.5
Bhagath Singh Urkalan  100.57
Ashish 485.37
Rahul Goka 100.57
Rahul Tiwari 1493.86
Ramit Malhotra 2987.76
Nithin 99.58
Nazneen Islam 995.92
ajay 4979.6
Total 12231.67

20th January 2025

Name  Amount (Rs.)
Govind Menon 4870.8
Kavya 199.2
Sangamesh Bagali 4870.8
Dipali Shinde 497.94
Yuvraj Wagh 1106.46
Amol 2437.11
Parijat Guha 995.92
Anandhi V 4979.6
Ashish 485.37
Shaayak Chatterjee  99.58
Hitin Bajaj 99.58
Sayan Chakraborty 497.94
BreachKing Chess Game 199.2
Total 21339.5

21st January 2025

Name  Amount (Rs.)
Bharat Shevkar 981.98
Swapnil Jaipurkar 100.57
Kalyan Dogga 995.92
Vinay Mukadam 996.91
Varenya 4979.6
Urvesh Vasanti Malvankar 498.93
Prashanth C 497.94
Anand Bhat 1991.84
Sharath Reddy 1991.84
Total 13035.53

22nd January 2025

Name  Amount (Rs.)
Vishal Sinha  970.74
Ravi Narayana Beeranthadka 970.74
Nikhil Shrotri 995.92
Param V V 4979.6
Lakshmi Krutivasan 4979.6
Vikram Ahuja 497.94
Shrikant Patil 7306.18
Total 20700.72

23rd January 2025 - Rest day

This article will be updated daily until the Tata Steel Chess 2025 ends.

Total funds raised: Rs. 94,075.92

Special Thanks:

Adarsh Bhadauria (Senior software developer at ChessBase India): The person who makes sure that every contributor will receive a certificate and receipt in their inbox.

Become a believer

Our mission is to help as many chess players as we can. If you share this vision and want to join us on this journey, then simply visit the HelpChess website. You can contribute by donating any amount of your choice and become a Believer or Big Believer. We will make sure that your contribution will directly help players in need.

Donate Now

If you are a budding talent in need of financial assistance, then you can fill out this Google form.

Work done by HelpChess in 2024

Shrenik and Purva Lad scholarship

14 laptops for 14 youngsters

Funds raised for the year 2023-24

Fundraiser during Chess Olympiad 2024

Pursue your Chess scholarship - 5

Chennai Grand Masters 2024 Scholarship


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