Soumya Swaminathan announces special online chess camp for differently-abled players

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 16/04/2026

IM Soumya Swaminathan has announced a special online chess camp for differently-abled players. The camp will run from 27th to 30th April. Soumya was inspired to conduct this camp after attending the Super Heroes Cup in Pune. The camp will focus on middlegame decision-making. It is open to differently-abled players rated between 1600 and 2200. Read the article to know how you can register.

Special camp for differently-abled players

IM Soumya Swaminathan, one of India’s most celebrated chess players, has announced a special online training camp for differently-abled chess players. Inspired by her recent experience at the Super Heroes Cup organised by ChessBase India in Pune, Soumya is taking a proactive step to give back to the community. The camp will run from 27th to 30th April and focus on helping players improve their middlegame decision-making.

The camp will be held online from 27th to 30th April.

About Soumya Swaminathan

Soumya Swaminathan is a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and International Master (IM) from India. She is currently ranked 15th among Indian women. Her major achievements include:

Gold at the World Junior Girls' Championship in 2009
Gold at the National Women's Championship in 2011
Gold at the Commonwealth Championship in 2012
Silver at the Women's Cup in Moscow in 2016
In 2018, she broke into the top 50 women in the world
Silver at the 2nd International Women's Championship in 2024

What inspired her to do this camp?

Soumya’s motivation comes from a personal experience at the Super Heroes Cup organised by ChessBase India in Pune.

These 16 were the participants of this year's Super Heroes Cup.

“I was a part of the commentary team at the tournament, and it was the first time I attended a differently-abled tournament in person. I was inspired to witness the resilient spirit and positive outlook of the players who participated. I also felt inspired by Sagar and Amruta's good intentions in making this tournament happen, and by the efforts of everyone - Chessbase India, Samay and Balraj to ensure that the tournament was conducted at a very high standard with positive energy all around,” she shared.

After interacting with the players there, Soumya felt that a training camp is the best way she can contribute to empower differently abled chess players in India. The experience she had gathered over the years as a player and student of chess could be useful. Additionally, attending the Chola Chess camps as a student over the last year made her realize that strong chess training should be accessible to everyone. That's why Soumya's camp is an attempt to initiate that vision.

About the camp

Dates: 27th-30th April

Eligibility: Differently-abled players, with a playing strength roughly between 1600 and 2200 rating, mainly. Players outside this rating range may also apply.

Duration: 3 hours per day, divided into two segments with a short break. If a player cannot attend the full session due to job or school commitments, they may join for a shorter duration. Please inform Soumya in advance.

Timing: Soumya is open to holding the session either from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM or 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Players’ opinions will be considered before finalizing the time.

Platform: Zoom or Google Meet.

Focus of the camp

Topic: The focus will be on middlegame decision-making, which Soumya cites as her personal strength as a player.
Interactive Learning: The sessions will mostly involve solving problems and discussing ideas.
Game Analysis: Players are invited to send in 1 or 2 annotated games. A dedicated session will address common mistakes found in these games.
Q & A: The last 15 minutes of each day will be a question-and-answer session covering anything from mindset to tournament preparation.
Accessibility: Soumya has assured that she will adapt the training to ensure accessibility for all participants and welcomes suggestions regarding the teaching format.

How can players apply?

The application process is simple and open now. Interested players are requested to fill out this form. In the form, players can also suggest specific topics they wish to be covered, allowing Soumya to prepare specific material before the camp begins.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from one of India’s finest chess minds!