The 6th Edition of the Pursue Your Chess Scholarship is back with a fund of Rs. 1,75,000
The very first scholarship of the HelpChess Foundation, the "Pursue Your Chess Scholarship," was launched six years ago with an amount of Rs. 50,000. Every year, the scholarship amount is increased by Rs. 25,000 and this year, it has reached Rs. 1,75,000. The scholarship is initiated by Ashwin Subramanian, a passionate chess lover and philanthropist. With this scholarship, he continues to provide young players with the support they need to chase their dreams. Read the article to know how it has helped players in the past and how you can apply.
The legacy of Pursue Your Chess Scholarship!
Every chess player’s journey is filled with challenges, whether it's finding the right coach, affording training, or gaining access to tournaments. For many, a little support at the right time can make all the difference. The HelpChess Foundation, which has been nurturing talent for the past seven years, understands this deeply. The foundation is a parent to many Scholarships. The first-ever scholarship it offered, the “Pursue Your Chess Scholarship,” is now 6 years old. It is as consistent as Carlsen’s wins, as helpful as Anand’s game insights, and as inspiring as Gukesh’s World Championship triumph. Consistent, because it has now reached its 6th edition; helpful, because it has enabled 9 players to take their chess journey forward; and inspiring, because it has motivated others to contribute as well.
The person behind this scholarship is Ashwin Subramanian. He is a software engineer by profession but a chess lover at heart. In his own words, “Chess makes me feel like I am meditating with my eyes wide open!” He is a firm believer in giving back to the community. Whether it’s financial help or technical help, Ashwin always tries his best to support the Indian chess players in every way he can. His drive to help players comes from personal experience. When he was in the 9th standard, he wanted a book on Kasparov-Karpov worth Rs. 35. But his family refused, calling it too expensive. He borrowed some money from his aunt and bought that book. This little incident now drives him to make sure no young player has to give up chess because they can’t afford the resources they need.
Looking at how the scholarship has grown and impacted young players, Ashwin also reflected on what the journey has taught him personally:
When I started this scholarship in 2018, I didn’t imagine we’d be here six years later, supporting multiple promising players year after year. What’s been most rewarding is seeing how relatively small interventions can lead to such meaningful progress. While I didn't have any specific expectations, it's wonderful to see players like Sammed and Shahil become IMs, Harikrishnan become a GM and others have made strong progress with their chess in terms of experience & strength. Seeing that kind of growth reinforces something I’ve come to believe deeply: Opportunity and Belief are critical talent enablers!!
Apply for Pursue Your Chess Scholarship 6th Edition
The previous editions of this scholarship have supported a wide range of talents:
Year | Beneficiaries | Amount | Achievement after the Scholarship |
2018 | Sammed Shete | Rs. 50,000 | Became an IM |
2020 | Shahil Dey | Rs. 50,000 | Became an IM, earned GM norm |
2020 | Aniruddha Potawad | Rs. 25,000 | Elo went from 1800 to 2300 & trained under GM Vishnu Prasanna |
2021 | Harikrishnan A. Ra | Rs. 50,000 | Became a GM |
2021 | Neelash Saha | Rs. 50,000 | Became an IM, crossed 2400+ Elo, very close to GM title |
2023 | Kushagra Mohan | Rs. 1,00,000 | Became an IM |
2023 | Shriraj Bhosale | Rs. 25,000 | Crossed 2100 Elo & trained under GM Shyam Sundar |
2024 | Jubin Jimmy | Rs. 1,25,000 | Became an IM |
2024 | Aaradhya Das | Rs. 25,000 | Won medals in many International tournaments |
When asked if he has noticed any shift in what young talents require most today compared to six years ago, Ashwin shared:
I feel quite a bit has changed. In the early years, the needs were more fundamental - coaching, tournament travel & sometimes even basic tech like a laptop. Now, the game is evolving quickly (especially from a competitive perspective), and so are the demands. Young players today are also much more aware of what it takes to grow, especially high-quality training with top coaches, access to sports psychologists, and also more advanced tools to prep and analyze.
Many applicants are clearer about their goals and more specific in how they want to use the support. There’s a certain maturity in how they approach their chess journey - and I think that reflects the overall growth of Indian chess! However, at its core, the need is still the same: bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. But the kind of support required to do that is certainly evolving - and the scholarship has had to evolve with it.
With such an inspiring track record, the 6th edition is now open for applications. If you are an Indian player who needs financial assistance for training, tournaments, or study material, you are encouraged to apply. Just as in previous years, the goal remains simple: No promising player should be held back by financial constraints.
Apply Now
Important links:
Know more about Ashwin Subramanian
Pursue Your Chess Scholarship - 1st Edition
Pursue Your Chess Scholarship - 2nd Edition
Pursue Your Chess Scholarship - 3rd Edition
Pursue Your Chess Scholarship - 4th Edition
Pursue Your Chess Scholarship - 5th Edition
