Nitin Narang

President @aicfchess | Entrepreneur | Investor | Founder @theideazfactory | Co-Founder @jist_news @hearclear_india @khabar_gaon

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

A truly double delight for chess lovers.

Today is World Chess Day, and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) is pleased to release the another instalment of quarterly stipends, ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹1,50,000, totalling ₹42,30,000, to 42 top players across the U7 to U19 categories (Open and Girls), based on their performances in the 2024 National Championships.

This is the first time in the history of Indian chess that our players and prodigies are receiving such financial support, so they do not have to give up their passion due to financial constraints. These stipends will support their coaching and travel needs, enabling them to compete globally and pursue higher goals with confidence.

This is part of AICF's ambitious plan to create a robust ecosystem for chess in India, inspired by the vision of Aadarniya Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji to empower and encourage athletes at the grassroots.

If chess is your dream, chase it. We are with you.

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @advorkovich @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

What a moment for our sport, chess.

To hear Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji speak about Sindarov’s World Cup triumph in Goa, his upcoming contest with our World Champion Gukesh, and the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on a global stage is deeply special.

Chess has always transcended borders.

Today, it is also strengthening bridges between India and the world. 🇮🇳🇺🇿

@PMOIndia @president_uz @mansukhmandviya @amb_tashkent @Media_SAI @FIDE_chess @aicfchess @srinathchess @chessgmkunte @DGukesh @GMJSindarov @viditchess @ArjunErigaisi @NihalSarin @rpraggnachess @humpy_koneru @DivyaDeshmukh05 @vantikachess @chessvaishali @savithachess

Video courtesy: @ANI

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

My heartfelt tribute to the Hockey Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand ji, who not only brought immense glory to India on the global sporting stage but also set a remarkable example of patriotism through the medium of sport.

Today, the nation celebrates his birth anniversary as National Sports Day. Heartiest greetings to all sports lovers and chess prodigies of India. I salute their exceptional skill, dedication and passion, which are helping India emerge as a chess superpower while inspiring and motivating countless youngsters to take up the sport and pursue excellence.

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Championships are visible. Preparation rarely is.

A glimpse of the work happening quietly before Team India lands in Samarkand.

The title defence has already begun.

Carry the flag with pride, Team India 🇮🇳

[Srinath Narayanan @srinathchess]

Had an intense but fun pre-Olympiad camp with the Indian Team over the past few days! Great energy, lots of good work and, most importantly, fantastic team spirit!

@aicfchess @Media_SAI @narangnitin

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Congratulations, Pragg @rpraggnachess, on becoming the first Indian ever to win the Grand Chess Tour!

To come back from six points down against Fabiano Caruana and win the title 15–13 speaks volumes about your fighting spirit and composure.

Another Indian name etched into global chess history.

🇮🇳

@narendramodi @PMOIndia
@mansukhmandviya @Media_SAI
@FIDE_chess @aicfchess

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

And somewhere in these classrooms could be one of the Grandmasters who takes India from 99 to 200.

That’s what CHESS+ is really about, taking chess to more children, opening doors, and giving talent a chance to find its way.

It also brings alive Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s vision for NEP 2020, education that goes beyond textbooks and helps every child discover what they can truly become.

Thank you, @jayantrld ji, for believing in this journey and making it possible.

@FIDE_chess @Media_SAI @mansukhmandviya @JoshiPralhad @PMOIndia

[Jayant Singh @jayantrld]

India has 99 Grandmasters. The next one may be sitting in a Navodaya school today!

Launched CHESS+ at National Bal Bhavan with @NVS_HQ and @aicfchess — bringing structured chess coaching, certified mentors, and competition to 30 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across Delhi NCR.

Four Grandmasters. Hundreds of students. One unforgettable afternoon. Grateful to GMs @srinathchess @pawnof64squares @vaibhavschess @chessgmkunte and @narangnitin for showing our students what dedication to the game looks like up close.

Chess equipment for all 30 schools made possible through CSR partners via @vidyanjali_edu. Because every child deserves a board to think on.

#CHESSPlus #IndianChess #NEP2020

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Congratulations to Mayank Chakraborty and Pratitee Bordoloi on winning the Asian Junior and Asian Junior Girls Chess Championship titles!

Wishing both of you many more victories and greater laurels in the years ahead. May you continue to make Bharat proud!!

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

@advorkovich Still in shock. Sergei was such an amazing person, warm, kind and someone I was always genuinely happy to meet.

Deeply saddened that he is no longer with us.

[International Chess Federation @FIDE_chess]

Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh honoured with Arjuna Award 🇮🇳🏅✨
Congratulations!!! 👏

Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh, winner of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, have been named among the 17 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award 2025. ♟🔥

🔸 The Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a sense of discipline.

Congratulating the two chess stars, All India Chess Federation President @narangnitin wrote:
“Congratulations to @DivyaDeshmukh05 and @viditchess on being honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award! Their exceptional performances, determination, and contribution to Indian chess have made the nation proud… A special salute to their parents for their sacrifices and unwavering belief, and to millions of Indian chess fans whose love and encouragement inspire our players every day.”

Read more: https://t.co/gD3Rp3jLeU

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Congratulations to @DivyaDeshmukh05 and @viditchess on being honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award!

Their exceptional performances, determination and contribution to Indian chess have made the nation proud.

A heartfelt thank you to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji for his unwavering encouragement to India’s sporting champions and for consistently placing sport and athletes at the heart of our national aspirations.

Grateful to Hon’ble Sports Minister @mansukhmandviya ji for his continued support to Indian sport and our chess champions.

A special salute to their parents for their sacrifices and unwavering belief, and to millions of Indian chess fans whose love and encouragement inspire our players every day.

May Divya and Vidit continue to make the Tricolour soar higher! 🇮🇳

@FIDE_chess @aicfchess @Media_SAI

[International Chess Federation @FIDE_chess]

♟😍 One of the great chess photographs!

FIDE Chess Olympiad, Lucerne, 1982. On one side, the Soviet team, all of them Georgians – Maia Chiburdanidze, Nona Gaprindashvili and Nana Ioseliani, who defined an era in women's chess.

Facing them, three sisters from Mumbai – Rohini, Jayshree and Vasanti Khadilkar – who did the same for Indian chess.

Fanta on every board 😅

♟ FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026
📍 Samarkand 🇺🇿
🗓 Game days: September 16–27

📷 Gerhard Hund

#ChessOlympiad

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

On the 80th Independence Day, we celebrate a Bharat that has risen like a phoenix and confidently emerged on the global stage.

From our phenomenal rise in sports, particularly in chess, to the brilliance of our young prodigies who have made the Tricolour fly high across the world, Bharat has emerged as a chess superpower.

A proud Naya Bharat that checkmates its rivals on the chessboard and every challenge beyond the board.

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess

[ChessBase India @ChessbaseIndia]

Its 2:16 AM in India right now, and we have huge news coming in from the USA. R. Praggnanandhaa is the Champion of Grand Chess Tour St. Louis Rapid and Blitz with a round to spare!

Praggnanandhaa drew against Javokhir Sindarov in the penultimate round to seal the tournament win with a score of 23/35 points - 1.5 points ahead of the field!

Big congratulations to Praggnanandhaa and his team on this amazing victory - this is the first Rapid and Blitz tournament which Pragg has won!

Graphic: Anmol Bhargav
#chess #chessbaseindia #praggnanandhaa

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

₹36,441 Crores

That’s how much the government led by Aadarniya PM Narendra Modi Ji has decided to invest in the youth of our country via the revamped Khelo India Scheme.

8x more investment
10x more athletes

That isn’t just a budget allocation. It’s India’s biggest investment in its youth.

The future belongs to the Youth of our country and PM Modi is making sure it’s bright!

Kudos to our Sports Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya Ji for driving this transformative vision of PM with conviction.

#KheloIndia4YouthDevelopment

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Huge moment for Indian chess!

Thank you Shri Jayant Singh ji for launching CHESS+ across 30 Navodaya Vidyalayas as a pilot project.

Chess in Schools has always been AICF’s flagship dream, CHESS+ just gave it rocket fuel. We are not just teaching a game, we are building India’s next wave of Grandmasters, one classroom at a time.

The board is set. The future looks golden. 🇮🇳 #CHESSPlus

@narendramodi @PMOIndia
@mansukhmandviya @Media_SAI
@advorkovich @vishy64theking
@DanaReiznieceOz @EmilSutovsky @FIDE_chess @aicfchess @chessgmkunte @iadkumar

[Jayant Singh @jayantrld]

Following International Chess Day, I am incredibly happy to announce the launch of our CHESS+ Initiative.

With the support of @aicfchess and @NVS_HQ, we will soon roll out a pilot program across 30 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), bringing a structured chess curriculum right into the classroom.

Along with @narangnitin and @srinathchess, I wish every young student the very best as they make their first gambit!

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Main character energy!

India’s Chess Olympiad team is officially set 🇮🇳 Eyes on Gold, again!!

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess

[Viswanathan Anand @vishy64theking]

Following the decision by President Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend the exercise of his duties, and in accordance with the FIDE Charter, I have assumed the responsibilities of Interim President.

I want to thank Arkady for his leadership and for putting the interests and stability of FIDE first.

Together with the FIDE Council, the administration and our member federations, my focus will be on ensuring continuity and serving the global chess family.

FIDE's work continues. Arkady has built a strong team and vision and I today take it as our collective responsibility to carry the work forward. Gens Una Sumus

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

As FIDE enters an interim phase of leadership, I extend my best wishes to Deputy President Viswanathan Anand @vishy64theking as he assumes the responsibilities of Interim President.

Vishy sir has earned the respect of the global chess community through his integrity, wisdom and lifelong service to our sport. I am confident that under his stewardship, FIDE will continue to uphold stability, good governance and its commitment to players and federations across the world as was being done by @advorkovich. I also acknowledge Arkady Dvorkovich’s decision to place the interests and continuity of FIDE first at a difficult moment.

The All India Chess Federation looks forward to working closely with Vishy sir and the entire FIDE leadership in advancing the game globally.

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya @Media_SAI
@aicfchess @FIDE_chess

[International Chess Federation @FIDE_chess]

♟ One game. Every corner of the world.

📍🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇳 India.

📷 FIDE once again invites the global chess community to celebrate International Chess Day by taking part in Creative Chess, a challenge to promote the game in the most imaginative way possible.

The idea is simple: set up a chess game in the most unusual, meaningful or symbolic place you can think of. It could be on a mountaintop, underwater, beside a famous local landmark or anywhere else that captures the imagination.

❗️Share your photos or videos on social media using #InternationalChessDay and tag FIDE.

The most original and inspiring submissions may be featured across FIDE’s official social media channels.

[Nitin Narang @narangnitin]

Cheers to all chess players and lovers on World Chess Day.

We are proud to be the nation that gave the world this most captivating cerebral game of 64 squares and 32 pieces, where mind matters, not muscle.

With only one more Grandmaster needed to complete a century of Grandmasters, India is poised to become the undisputed global powerhouse of chess, producing many hundreds of Grandmasters in the years to come.

Warm congratulations as well to our chess administrators, whose dedication and well planned moves have helped create the right ecosystem for chess to flourish. Let’s dust off the board, come together, learn a few moves and play.

@narendramodi @mansukhmandviya @FIDE_chess @advorkovich @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @aicfchess