By Venkatachari Jagannathan
Chennai, Jan 12 (.) In a move that rewrites the prevailing norms of Indian chess administration, a private institution, Premier Chess Academy, has launched an initiative featuring neither entry fees for players nor prize money for winners, an effort many believe should have originated from the cash-rich All India Chess Federation (AICF).
Founded by Renjith Balakrishnan, Premier Chess Academy is organising a FIDE-rated international chess tournament titled “Chess for Everyone”, scheduled to be held from March 20 to 23, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Explaining the concept, Balakrishnan, Founder of Premier Chess Academy in both the United States and India, said the main objective is to give rated and unrated children in Kerala the opportunity to compete against International Grandmasters (GMs) and International Masters (IMs) on home soil.
“Why should our children travel overseas and spend lakhs of rupees to face stronger opposition? Let the Grandmasters come to India,” Balakrishnan said. The aim, he added, is to enable Indian players to challenge top international opponents without bearing the financial burden of foreign travel.
Currently, many parents and young players invest heavily in overseas tournaments to gain exposure and improve their FIDE ratings. The Chess for Everyone initiative seeks to reverse this trend by bringing foreign GMs and IMs to Kerala, offering local players high-level competition, confidence-building experiences, and rating opportunities within India itself.
Balakrishnan said his more than 15 years of international experience and deep understanding of the global chess ecosystem give him confidence in the project’s sustainability.
“This is just the beginning. There are execution plans in place, even if the process takes time,” he said.
Despite being a non-prize event, the tournament has received official approval from the International Chess Federation (FIDE), confirming that it complies with international standards relating to tournament format, arbiters, playing conditions, and governance.
A limited number of Grandmasters and International Masters will be invited to ensure competitive balance and meaningful learning opportunities for young Indian players. The event will be conducted in the FIDE Classical format.
Hosting the tournament in Kerala, often described as “God’s Own Country”, also blends competitive chess with the state’s reputation for hospitality and cultural appeal.
Premier Chess Academy’s broader vision is to build a holistic chess ecosystem that includes players, coaches, arbiters, and organisers, with a strong emphasis on ethics, education, and sustainable development. The Academy is also the driving force behind the Kerala Premier Chess League (KPCL), the state’s first franchise-based chess League featuring structured auctions and hub-based teams designed to integrate local talent with international exposure.
“This is not about a single tournament,” Balakrishnan said. “It is about changing how opportunities are created for chess players in Kerala and in India.”
Elaborating on how the idea took shape, Balakrishnan said, “In June 2025, Vision 2000 was set to push 10 more kids from Kerala above a 2000 classical rating. But with very few tournaments happening due to high bank guarantee requirements under AICF regulations, opportunities became limited. These conditions deter organisers and restrict player access. Keeping the tournament free removes both financial and structural barriers, making FIDE chess accessible, especially for talented kids who need support.”
The number of participants will be capped at 150–200 players due to space constraints. The estimated budget for the event is around Rs 2 lakh.
“We are waiting for confirmations from GMs and IMs,” Balakrishnan said, adding that no appearance fees are planned, as the tournament is being positioned as a social cause.
Whether Indian Grandmasters and International Masters will step forward to support this initiative and give back to the game remains an open and crucial question, one that will be answered in the months ahead.
. VAN .