 "Indian chess stars criticise government's decision to stop cash rewards: 'Awards are lifeline for promising players'")
In a major blow to Indian chess, the government has reportedly decided to remove cash rewards for players earning Grandmaster and International Master titles . According to news agency PTI, the reward system was discontinued starting February 2025.
Earlier the sports ministry awarded Rs 4 lakh to a player for attaining the Grandmaster title and Rs 1.5 lakh for attaining an International Master or International Women Master (IWM) title. The cash award was only given to players achieving the titles before turning 20 years old.
The sports ministry will now only award prize money for winning world-level competitions.
The recent development has come as a major shock for prominent Indian chess players who feel such a move will “negatively” impact the upcoming talent. Surprisingly the removal of cash reward has come only months after Indian chess players won some of the biggest global titles.
In 2024, both the Indian men’s and women’s won Olympiad gold medals respectively for the first time . In December last year, D Gukesh defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest chess world champion of all time while Koneru Humpy won the World Rapid Championship title.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, who recently became only the second Indian to cross 2800 Elo rating points , said removing the cash reward would discourage parents and increase their financial burden.
Erigaisi: ‘It is maybe demotivating for the parents’
“If it is actually the case that it is stopped now, then it’s definitely not something that would demotivate a lot of young children as they don’t care about the money aspect,” Erigaisi told PTI. “But it is maybe (demotivating) for the parents. When they have to make some financial calls, then what would happen after becoming a Grandmaster would be a question.
“And if there is some motivation like this, then there are more chances that they would encourage their children if they have to make a call between chess and studies. It’s not something ideal.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGM Srinath Narayanan, who was the captain of the Indian gold medal-winning team at Olympiad 2024 , said the cash rewards are the “lifeline” for many young players and removing them will impact them negatively.
“This is a sad development. Awards and funds are the lifeline of many promising players under 20. In practice I can imagine this move negatively impacting many upcoming talents. I have been informed that some of the existing awards earned by virtue of this achievement have also not been disbursed yet,” he wrote on X.
This is a sad development. Awards and funds are the lifeline of many promising players under 20. In practice I can imagine this move negatively impacting many upcoming talents. I have been informed that some of the existing awards earned by virtue of this achievement have also… pic.twitter.com/HSwvLdIj5m
— Srinath Narayanan (@srinathchess) February 13, 2025
International Master Venkat Saravanan questioned the timing of the decision considering the recent landmarks that Indian chess players have achieved over the last few months.
Indian #Chess is going great guns & Govt decides to discontinue cash awards for getting GM/IM titles (Given only for U-20). Explanation: to “simplify the…incentive”, “scheme has been amended”! Did @aicfchess even notice? Excellent vision @Media_SAI @IndiaSports @YASMinistry!
Indian #Chess is going great guns & Govt decides to discontinue cash awards for getting GM/IM titles (Given only for U-20).
— Venkat Saravanan (@reachvsara) February 12, 2025
Explanation: to "simplify the...incentive", "scheme has been amended"! Did @aicfchess even notice?
Excellent vision @Media_SAI @IndiaSports @YASMinistry!
All India Chess Federation Vice-President Dibyendu Barua, meanwhile, has said that the decision was taken without consulting the chess body.
“No, we didn’t know. The AICF has not been consulted. They took the decision absolutely without consulting the All India Chess Federation. Definitely, it is not a good sign. As a player, I would say I don’t agree with this,” he told the Hindustan Times.
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