The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has announced financial support for 42 of India’s most promising young chess players, with the aim of helping them continue practicing the sport without worrying about the cost of training and competition.On World Chess Day, the federation released quarterly stipends worth Rs 42.3 lakh to players in the under 7 to 19 age groups, across all Open and Girls categories. The players were selected based on their performances at the 2024 National Championships, with each receiving between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Calling it a landmark step, AICF President Nitin Narang said, “Today is World Chess Day, and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) is pleased to release another installment of quarterly stipends, ranging from ₹ 60,000 to ₹ 1,50,000, for a total of ₹ 40,000,000 to ₹ 400000000000000000000000000000000000000 categories (Open and Girls), based on their performances in the 2024 National Championships.Highlighting the importance of the initiative, he added, “This is the first time in the history of Indian chess that our players and prodigies are getting such financial support, so that they do not have to give up their passion due to financial constraints.”According to the federation, the money is intended to cover coaching and travel expenses, allowing young players to compete in international tournaments and improve their game. Narang said: “These scholarships will support their coaching and travel needs, enabling them to compete globally and pursue higher goals with confidence.”He also described the program as part of AICF’s long-term effort to build a stronger grassroots system, saying, “This is part of AICF’s ambitious plan to create a robust chess ecosystem in India, inspired by Prime Minister Aadarniya Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision to empower and encourage grassroots athletes.Encouraging the aspiring players, I concluded: “If chess is your dream, pursue it. We are with you.”