Trending:

'There is no culture of chess in north India': Vantika Agarwal speaks bitter truth as she awaits invitations to top-tier tournaments

FP Sports Desk February 18, 2025, 05:00:19 IST

Vantika Agarwal has shared her journey in chess, discussing the challenges she faces in north India and the lack of awareness regarding the game. Despite her achievements, she has yet to receive invitations to elite tournaments but continues to aim for the grandmaster title.

Advertisement
Vantika Agarwal is currently aiming to earn the grandmaster title. Image: Instagram/Vantika
Vantika Agarwal is currently aiming to earn the grandmaster title. Image: Instagram/Vantika

Vantika Agarwal, who recently won the prestigious Arjuna Award, has opened up on the challenges she faced in her journey to the top and why the northern part of India still needs awareness regarding chess. In her recent interview with the Times of India, Vantika touched upon various subjects including how her love affair with the game began and why she still hasn’t received invitations to elite tournaments.

Vantika Agarwal shares her journey to the top

Vantika reportedly came across chess by accident. She and her brother stumbled into the chess room during their school’s zero period and got hooked on the game. Vantika quickly persuaded her mother to enroll them at the Genius Chess Academy in Noida. She started training with local coaches before taking guidance from grandmasters like Praveen Thipsay, Tejas Bakre, and Vishnu Prasanna.

“Before chess, I was involved in a lot of activities, like skating, dancing, music, art, cricket, and more. I mean, I was playing all kinds of sports and engaging in these activities. After my first tournament win, I never looked back,” Vantika was quoted as saying by TOI.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Vantika also talked about the challenges she has faced and continues to encounter. She highlighted how many people in north India remain unaware of chess, reflecting the stark contrast in chess culture compared to south India.

“The challenge that I faced is like (one) I’m still facing. In north India, there is no culture of chess. In the south, you have academies, but here, no culture. If someone asks what you do, and you say, ‘I’m a chess player,’ their response is usually, ‘Okay, but what do you actually do? What are you studying?’ I think it’s still the same story, even after winning so many medals. People still ask, ‘Chess is fine, but what do you really do?” she said.

Undeterred by these obstacles, Vantika remains focused on proving herself through participation in every possible open tournament. She has yet to receive invitations to top-tier tournaments but her ultimate goal is clear, to collaborate with top Indian and international grandmasters to refine her game.

“I won two gold medals at the Olympiad, but I’m still not getting invitations to top-tier tournaments,” she added.

Vantika is also focussing on becoming a grandmaster and crossing the 2500 rating. As of February 2025, Vantika’s FIDE rating is 2411.

Home Video Shorts Live TV