A chessboard does not care where a player comes from. It gives both sides the same 64 squares, the same pieces and the same rules. But reaching that board is not equally easy for everyone. Checkmate Her Limits is for girls to attempt to close that gap by bringing coaching and competitive opportunities to communities where access may otherwise be limited. Two cousins, Ankit and Prabhat, in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, during COVID, started a learning hub where they taught students chess for free. In 2025, they formally established Shreejan Learning Hub Foundation. Along the way, they noticed that girls in rural villages were being left out of many opportunities, and this led to Checkmate Her Limits. Within the programme, more than 250 girls across five villages became involved, with local mentors helping them learn and participate in tournaments. Some progressed to district and FIDE-rated events
Where It Began
Checkmate Her Limits started on January 1, 2026, with an initial focus on five selected villages. Prerana, Saniya, Shama, Chandani, and Priya were the first five mentors associated with the initiative. These senior mentors were among the first to learn chess through the initiative and later began teaching children the basics, including those who had never seen a chessboard in their lives.
Growing Through Community
The mentor team later expanded to a total of 10 mentors through village networks, friendships and personal connections. From Priya's village, Anshu and Archana joined through connections. Jiya joined after her sister became associated with chess learning through the initiative. Raina joined through her connection with Prerana, while Illma joined through her friendship with Saniya.
Meet the Mentors
The initiative is ultimately shaped by the girls and young women who have taken on the responsibility of passing their knowledge forward. Each of the ten mentors has a different story of how she encountered chess, became involved with Checkmate Her Limits, and eventually began teaching others.
Prerana
Born on 1 February 2005, Prerana has completed her graduation in Agriculture and has been associated with Checkmate Her Limits since its early days. Prerana is Prabhat's sister. Prabhat is one of the instructors of the Checkmate Her Limits Program. Due to this, she also became an important source of trust for families in the village, particularly when concerns arose about young girls travelling abroad for the Kazakhstan trip. Having a familiar young woman and family member among the mentors helped reassure parents and made the journey feel more comfortable for them. Prerana accompanied the team to Kazakhstan and handled her responsibilities throughout the trip. Since then, she has continued to play an active role in the initiative, mentoring children and helping introduce more girls to chess. Her involvement has made her both a mentor on the chessboard and a reassuring presence for families who are still becoming familiar with the opportunities the programme can offer.
Saniya
Born on 22 October 2007, Saniya comes from a modest family background. Her father, Abdul Wahid, runs a tea stall, and she is the eldest of three sisters. While her participation in activities beyond her immediate surroundings was once somewhat limited, her parents have gradually become more supportive of her education and involvement in chess and other opportunities. Today, Saniya works as a teacher at a local private school and has also taken on the role of teaching chess to children in schools.
Shama
Born on 1 January 2004, Shama is from Gaharpur and holds a degree in Commerce. Her father, Sanwar Ali, works as a hawker, and she has one brother and three sisters. She currently teaches at a local school, building on her existing experience of working with children. Shama’s strengths lie particularly in English communication and teaching. Her confidence in interacting with children has become an important part of her role as a mentor. Through Checkmate Her Limits, chess has added a new dimension to her work, allowing her to introduce schoolchildren to the game. Her interests and career aspirations extend across teaching, banking and English-speaking training.
Chandani
Born on 25 January 2009, Chandani is from a family where education has always been valued. Her father, Moolchand Bind, works in construction, while her mother is a teacher. With one brother and two sisters, Chandani is currently in Class 12 and has her sights set on medicine. She dreams of becoming a doctor. Chess came into her life through Checkmate Her Limits, and she soon began introducing the game to children in schools. For Chandani, it has become something different from her usual studies, a chance to work with younger children, share something she has learned herself and discover new skills along the way. Balancing chess with her studies and her dream of becoming a doctor, she is gradually finding her own way of making an impact.
Priya
Born on 16 July 2007, Priya comes from a hardworking family. Her father, Dhirendra Kumar, works as a labourer in Pune, and she has three brothers. She is currently pursuing a B.A. and is in her second semester, while also preparing for her goal of securing a government job and building a stable career. Priya joined Checkmate Her Limits during its early days and soon became more than just a participant. She helped connect other girls from her village, including Anshu and Archana, with the initiative. Through chess, Priya has found a new way to learn, work with children and support other girls in her community, all while continuing her own education and working towards her future.Anshu Bind
Born on 25 November 2008, Anshu Bind is from Madanpur. Her father, Mangal Prashad, is involved in the carpet business, and she comes from a large family with four sisters and one brother. Her parents have been supportive of her education and career plans. Anshu is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Biology and is in her fourth semester. Teaching is already a part of Anshu’s life. Alongside her studies, she teaches children from Nursery to Class 5 across different subjects and hopes to build a career in teaching. She became part of Checkmate Her Limits through the network of girls involved in the initiative, including Priya from her village. Chess has now become another way for her to work with children and share what she has learned with them.
Archana Bind
Born on 1 January 2008, Archana Bind is from Madanpur and comes from a large family with five sisters and one brother. Her father, Ramchandra Bind, works with the PRD. She is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Biology and is in her second semester, with an interest in the medical field. She is considering D.Pharma as a possible career path. Archana was introduced to chess and Checkmate Her Limits through Priya, who is also from her village and is associated with the initiative. Alongside her studies, Archana has started teaching children and is now discovering chess as another way to work with them. For her, the initiative has opened up an opportunity to learn something new while developing her confidence and skills.Jiya
Born on 29 November 2009, Jiya is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Biology and is in her third semester. Her father, Kamlesh Kumar Pandey, works in marketing, and she has one sister and one brother. Her family has also faced the challenges of her mother’s illness, which has been an important part of Jiya’s journey. Jiya was introduced to Checkmate Her Limits through her sister, who was already learning chess through the initiative. What began as a connection through her family eventually brought Jiya into the programme herself, where she took on the role of a mentor. She now balances her studies with teaching and chess, continuing to learn the game while helping introduce it to younger children.
Raina
Raina’s journey with Checkmate Her Limits is somewhat different from that of the other mentors. Having studied in an urban environment, she already had some exposure to chess before returning to her village due to personal circumstances. This earlier experience with the game gave her a familiarity with chess that many of the other mentors were only beginning to develop. She became associated with the initiative through her connection with Prerana and eventually joined its growing mentor network. Her different educational background and prior experience with chess have brought another perspective to the group, while allowing her to continue engaging with the game and with children in her villa
Ilma
Ilma joined Checkmate Her Limits through her friendship with Saniya. She is currently associated with a coaching and training centre, where she is learning computer-related skills and building her knowledge alongside her other interests. Chess was relatively new to her when she joined the initiative, but she quickly developed an interest in the game and a desire to improve. With strong support from her parents for her education and new opportunities, Ilma sees chess as another skill worth developing. As she continues learning the game, she hopes to explore the opportunities it can bring while also working towards her educational and professional goals.
From the Villages to the Chessboard
The work of Checkmate Her Limits caught the attention of ChessBase India, which brought its Big Chess Summer Camp to Bhadohi in May 2026. The camp was jointly organised by Shreejan Learning Hub and Teach Chess India, a ChessBase India initiative. The 10 young women mentors from Checkmate Her Limits were trained and allowed to serve as trainers at the camp, taking their journey from chess learners to teachers a step further. Their progress eventually led to a wildcard entry at the FIDE World Schools Team Chess Championship 2026 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the Duolingo Dreamers team represented India.
The team’s journey, along with the wider work of Shreejan Learning Hub, later caught the attention of ChessBase India and led to the Big Chess Summer Camp being brought to Bhadohi in May.
