India’s chess surge drives global coaching demand and influence

India, with more than 90,000 registered players and close to 100 Grandmasters, has produced two World Chess Champions – Viswanathan Anand and D Gukesh – positioning the country as a major force in global chess. While the sport’s administration remains largely European and Russian, experts say India can increase its influence by hosting high‑level tournaments and attracting industrial backing.

Indian chess coaches are now being recruited abroad. Grandmaster Priyadharshan Kannappan and International Master Atanu Lahiri will train the national teams of Namibia, Bhutan and Eswatini for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (15‑28 September). Their assignments are part of FIDE’s Olympiad Training Support Programme, which funds 10‑hour online coaching for developing chess nations, underscoring India’s growing role beyond producing elite players.

The combined rise of Indian players and coaches reflects a broader shift in the global chess landscape toward greater Asian, and specifically Indian, participation and influence.