Ken Chess Academy Invites Chess Lovers of All Ages to a Free Independence Day Camp
Ken Chess Academy, led by Rohit Pol, FIDE D.I. and Senior National Arbiter, brings the Big Chess Camp — the brainchild of ChessBase India and Teach Chess India — to Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, this Independence Day. As always, the camp is free and open to chess enthusiasts of all ages and playing levels. Whether you are an absolute beginner still learning the rules or a seasoned player looking to sharpen your skills, the event promises something for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know about the camp, including the venue, timings, and what to expect.
Chess, Freedom & Fun: Big Chess Independence Camp 2026 in Ichalkaranji
At ChessBase India, we have two goals: to cover top-level chess events through detailed reports, videos, and live streams, and to strengthen the chess ecosystem at the grassroots by organising free training camps and events that are accessible to a wide range of people. The Big Chess Camps have been one of the most successful initiatives in pursuit of the latter goal. What began in Mumbai is now taking root in chess communities across the country. The latest destination: Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur.
The initiative is spearheaded by Rohit Pol, proprietor of Ken Chess Academy, who is also a FIDE Developmental Instructor and Senior National Arbiter. He will be supported by a team of coaches from Ken Chess Academy, who will guide participants through the camp's specially designed training material prepared by ChessBase India and Teach Chess India.
The Big Chess Camp follows a simple, self-paced approach to learning. Participants work through a curriculum of 45 sheets featuring puzzles, positions and different chess themes, curated by experienced trainers and chess enthusiasts and divided into four levels according to playing strength: Level 1 (Sheets 1–15), Level 2 (16–30), Level 3 (31–40), and Level 4 (41–45). A volunteer first interacts with each participant to assess their understanding and assigns them a sheet appropriate to their level; complete beginners are given a quick introduction to the basics before beginning with Level 1. Once a sheet is completed, the participant brings it to a volunteer or trainer for correction. If the answers are correct, they move on to the next sheet; if not, the volunteer offers a small hint or gentle nudge rather than simply revealing the solution, encouraging the participant to think and try again. Above all, the camp is built around voluntary, self-paced learning: participants can solve ten sheets or just one, depending on how much they wish to learn. There is no pressure, no compulsory curriculum to finish — the idea is simply to make chess learning engaging, accessible and driven by the learner's own curiosity.
Venue & Timings
With the Medical Association of Ichalkaranji (MAI) as the venue partner, the camp will be held on Saturday, 15th August 2026, at the Late Mrs. Pratibha Balasaheb Lande Cultural Bhavan & Dr. Dilip Lalasaheb Deshmukh Hall, Behind Yashwant Process, Kalyan Kendra Road, Ichalkaranji, Dist. Kolhapur. The camp will run from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with participants free to drop in at any time during these hours. And, needless to say, there is no entry fee — the camp is completely free of cost.
Contact
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact Rohit Pol at +9196573 33926
With the motto Learn, Play India – Win India, the organisers invite chess lovers from Ichalkaranji and beyond to make the most of this free camp. So, whether you are taking your first steps on the 64 squares or have been playing for years, come join us this Independence Day — and play, learn, teach, and celebrate the game we love.
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