How a small-town movement is changing the lives of 100 girls
Checkmate Betul is a youth-led chess initiative that is creating change in a small town in Madhya Pradesh. It was founded by Avika Shukla, a high school student living in the United States. The programme provides chess training to girls who are playing the game for the first time. The programme also focuses on building confidence, critical thinking, and consistency through chess. This article looks at how the programme began, how it works on the ground, and the impact it is already creating. Read the article to understand why Checkmate Betul is more than just a chess class. Photo: Checkmate Betul
Knock knock…
“Can you teach me chess?”
If someone asked you this, how would you respond? A quick yes, a polite no, or a promise for later? This might be an ordinary question, but opportunity begins exactly here. For you and for them. Do we all imagine opportunities to arrive clean and precise? Who wouldn’t? But reality rarely works that way. Opportunity appears as a door. Whether it becomes meaningful depends on who notices it and who chooses to step through!
One such door opened to Avika, a 16-year-old high-schooler, during her summer visit to Betul, a small town in Madhya Pradesh. She was there to spend time with her family and one day, she was playing chess with her housekeeper’s children. They were curious. Naturally, they asked questions. How did she learn the game? How could they get better? And then, they asked if she could teach them chess.
But… Avika was about to return to the United States. How could it be possible? Distance, time, and resources all stood in the way. The moment could have ended there. But it did not! Avika saw a possibility: Technology! It had already changed how people learn and connect. So teaching chess by using technology was not a big problem. Also, chess does not require physical presence. A board, a screen, and a willingness to learn could be enough. That moment became an idea and that idea became Checkmate Betul.
Avika’s relationship with chess began early. She was introduced to the game at the age of five by her grandfather. She loved the depth and discipline associated with the game. Over the years, chess became more than just a hobby for her. It taught her patience, focus and problem-solving. As a competitive player, she participated in national and local tournaments, but it was later, through her association with Queens United Chess in Chicago, that she became more aware of the gender divide that still exists in the chess world. She began to imagine a space where girls could experience chess without hesitation, fear, or exclusion. Checkmate Betul grew from that personal journey, with the hope that more girls could find confidence, joy, and strength through the game.
Today, Checkmate Betul introduces chess to girls between the ages of 8 and 18 across schools and tuition centres in Betul. Most of these girls are first-time learners. For many, this is their first structured exposure to a game that demands patience, planning, and independent thinking.
The programme operates through a blended learning model. The girls sit together in classrooms or tuition centres with physical chessboards in front of them and instructors join them online. Actually, this model grew out of necessity. Many schools in the region do not have in-house chess coaches, but what they have are eager students! That’s why the programme functions consistently despite limited local resources.
The girls start by understanding the board first. They learn how each piece moves and play simple games without any pressure. Because of this, their confidence develops and they get mentally ready for the next step: Tactics and problem-solving!
Why just girls?
Checkmate Betul works exclusively with girls. This was a conscious decision. When asked about the reason, Avika, founder of Checkmate Betul, shared, “Chess has historically been male-dominated, and even today, only about 11 out of every 100 FIDE-rated players are girls. I wanted to create a space where girls feel fully supported, without the pressure of constantly having to prove themselves in a male-heavy environment.” Even the Checkmate Betul is an all-girls team. “Having an all-girls team of instructors and volunteers was intentional. Our entire team felt that our chess experience was not filled with enough female friends. At tournaments, we were all often 1 of a handful of girls in a tournament with over 100+ player, and this was a collective experience within our entire team.” Avika said.
The strength of Checkmate Betul lies in the women who carry it forward. Their team is spread across different countries. FIDE Arbiters, Women International Masters, Women Candidate Masters, senior instructors, and strong state-level players all contribute to this programme. Two of them shared what the game and the programme mean to them.
WCM Zara Majid (16 years old from Cayman Islands)
Role: Podcast and Youth Affairs Lead
"I joined Checkmate Betul because I see so much of myself in these girls. I know what it feels like to love chess but not always feel seen or supported in the space. Girls historically in chess have been continuously underrepresented, and to this day, you can still see the stigma surrounding female encouragement in the sport. Even from personal experience, I have felt the ridicule and have felt underestimated by male players in the sport despite my prowess in the game. This project allows me to give back in a deeply personal way, by helping create those kinds of opportunities and encouragement I wish every girl had when I was starting chess."
She also shared what teaching these girls means to her:
"Teaching these girls means sharing more than just chess knowledge; it means sharing the hope, encouragement, support, and belief that these girls can achieve their dreams. Every lesson is a chance to remind them that they belong at the board. Watching them grow in confidence and ask questions is incredibly fulfilling. Personally, this is why I love teaching chess, whether it’s in my home country or around the world. I continue to see chess as a key tool for supporting and empowering the future generations. Chess itself has an innate power to inspire leadership, build confidence, and teach lessons that you can’t learn in school (like learning to fail but come back stronger again and again). This platform has inspired these girls from rural areas where they don’t have the same opportunities to succeed and we intend to bridge both the gender and social gap in the game."
Shreya Soni (18 years old from India)
Role: On-ground Lead
"My journey with chess has been deeply personal, and Checkmate Betul became a way for me to turn that love into purpose. I joined because I truly believe chess can change how girls see themselves: teaching them patience, confidence, and the courage to think independently. It was a way to give back what chess has given to me to these girls, whether it would be patience, confidence, or how to make decisions myself. Teaching these girls has been deeply personal and emotional for me. Watching them slowly open up, ask questions, and believe in themselves reminds me of why I started. Every class feels like a reminder that even small efforts can create real impact, and being part of their growth gives me a sense of purpose beyond the board."
And they have already seen the impact. Many girls have improved focus and concentration. Some have shown better academic performance. Skills like planning, patience and problem-solving that we learn from chess automatically reflect in the classroom. Communicating during lessons and following instructions has helped improve English skills for several students. More importantly, the girls are beginning to trust their thinking. They ask questions. They make decisions. They speak with confidence.
We often joke about the maths teacher who will turn up for class even if the city is flooded. But what happens when it is the other way around, when the teacher is absent and the students are the ones asking for the class to happen? This moment happened during Diwali. It’s a time where kids are (understandably) thinking about anything but studying. Due to the holiday, the instructor had planned to cancel the session but forgot to send out the message. When she checked her phone, it was filled with messages from parents and students asking where the class link was and whether the lesson could still take place. They were sad because the class was cancelled! I think this is the best example of how deeply the programme had connected with them.
Even the parents and the local community have played a key role in sustaining the programme. Many families adjust their household routines to ensure their daughters attend sessions. Local tuition centres provide space and logistical support. Such kind of trust helps the programme grow steadily.
Not only this, but they have also received support from outside. FIDE Social has helped them grow the initiative. ChessKid came up with significant support. They have provided free Gold memberships to the students who would otherwise not have access.
The project is fueled by pure passion. Yet… some challenges are there. Their biggest challenge is funding. They need financial support to arrange projectors, speakers, and study materials. The team hopes to expand the programme to more schools, but sometimes, the obstacle is as simple as a missing phone number. Many local schools don't have websites or contact details. This makes outreach difficult. Despite these obstacles, the on-ground team works tirelessly to ensure sessions continue smoothly, without disruption. To extend the programme’s reach, they also organised a free online chess tournament for all the girls in Madhya Pradesh on 13 December 2025.
They have launched its own Spotify podcast, and so far, there are three episodes uploaded. From Avika and her international all-girls team sharing behind-the-scenes moments, to conversations with global chess stars like WIM Rachel Miller and Rochelle Ballantyne, every episode is an inspiration.
What does it actually take?
How to make such programmes happen? How do such programmes work? How to make such programmes successful? What are the ingredients to do this? Avika shared:
From my experience with Checkmate Betul, the most important ingredients are understanding the community, building trust, and staying consistent. You need to listen to the students, parents, and schools to know what will actually work on the ground. Passion is essential, but it has to be paired with practical planning, resourcefulness, and adaptability. This is especially true when infrastructure and funding are limited.
I think the hardest path for Checkmate Betul is over: the door is open! As long as curiosity and courage guide these girls, there are no limits to where they can go, both on the chessboard and beyond…
Today, Checkmate Betul works with around 100 girls across six schools and learning centres. The sessions are held regularly, with classes conducted three times a week and once a week during the exam season.
A message to these girls: The world of chess sees you, and you belong here!
If you want to support this initiative, please contact checkmatebetul@gmail.com.
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