"Let value speak first and not the price tag." That is the thought behind GM Shyam Sundar's new training initiative. Instead of setting a fixed fee in advance, he is inviting players to experience the training and then contribute what they can afford and feel is apt.
"I wanted to focus purely on the training quality without worrying about numbers or earnings," Shyam explains. He points to ambitious adult players who are willing to work hard but can lose their way, particularly when quality training is beyond their budget.
For him, the answer is to begin with the resources he already has. "I used to think that if I had some funding, I could do more for the community. But I'm in a clear mindset now! I'm going to do the best I can with whatever resources I have right now."
Elite Adult Masterclass: the details
Chess Thulir's Elite Adult Masterclass, Online Part One, is scheduled for Monday, November 2, Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Sessions run from 8 to 10 p.m. IST each day, making six hours of training in total.
The programme is for players aged 20 and above, with a minimum rating of 2300+. It includes interactive live sessions, recordings, and PGN/training materials. This first edition is online, so eligible players can join without travelling to Chennai.
There is no fixed fee. Players can contribute after the sessions based on what they can afford and what they consider appropriate for the training provided. This is a pay-what-is-apt contribution model, rather than an advertised fixed-price course.
To register, contact Chess Thulir on WhatsApp at +91 6369 401 963.
A coach with a record of helping players grow
The initiative comes from a Grandmaster whose work has already helped several Indian players reach important milestones. In our March 2026 feature on Chess Thulir, we reported that five of Shyam's students had become Grandmasters. Four of his students reached the milestone in 2025: Srihari L R, Harikrishnan A. Ra, Ilamparthi A R and Raahul V S.
Ilamparthi, the former World Under-14 champion, is one example. Shyam described him as a dedicated, hardworking player with "zero distractions" who spent much of his time at the academy whenever he was in Chennai. Harikrishnan's GM report also documented his years of training with Shyam at Chess Thulir, alongside work with other coaches.
Shyam has also worked with World Junior Champion Pranav V and National Women's Champion Nandhidhaa P V. His coaching experience includes Indian teams at events such as the Chess Olympiad, FIDE World Cup and World Team Chess Championship.
His own playing record includes Asian Junior gold medals in 2010 and 2011 and a Commonwealth Championship silver medal in 2012. But the thread running through his academy's work is making serious training more accessible.
A beginning, not a one-off
Shyam says his team shares this vision, and he hopes to organise more initiatives online and offline for different ages and playing levels. Those are future plans; the announced November 2-4 masterclass is specifically the online, 20+, 2300+ edition.
For ambitious adult players who meet the criteria, it is an opportunity to learn first and decide their contribution afterwards. The training is the starting point. The price tag does not have to be.
