New Delhi, April 22 (NationPress) 64 Squares, a collaborative effort between the Pravaha Foundation based in Hyderabad and the chess startup MGD1, is dedicated to enhancing the presence of women in chess across India. The 2025 cohort includes a fellowship grant totaling Rs 1 crore that will support five outstanding chess players, including IM Vantika Agrawal, WFM Shubhi Gupta, WFM Charvi Anilkumar, and promising talents WIM Sarayu Velpula and WIM Sahithi Varshini.

This initiative seeks to discover and assist talented women chess players in India by financing their training, tournament participation, and exposure for a year. One of the initial beneficiaries, Vantika Agrawal, who received support in 2023, has since gained the title of International Master and returned with numerous accolades for the nation, including both team and individual gold medals at the 2024 Chess Olympiad.

Vantika is now focusing on achieving the esteemed Grandmaster title and has been incorporated into the 2025 cohort of this initiative to further her ambitions.

The journeys of Vantika and her fellow cohort members illustrate the long-lasting benefits of the support provided by the Pravaha Foundation and MGD1 through 64 Squares. With the initiative's backing, they have already performed remarkably on the international stage, contributing to India's success in securing silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2024 Chess Olympiad.

The significant effects of this transformative support are clear in the progress of rising stars like Sarayu Velpula and Sahithi Varshini. The program prioritizes shaping trajectories by nurturing emerging talent like Sarayu (19), a former U-13 national champion who recently achieved second place at the 2024 National Junior Girls Championship and currently boasts a FIDE rating of 2302.

Similarly, Sahithi, aged 17 and a Woman International Master with a rating of 2301, has earned multiple titles at the Asian Youth Championships and represented India at the 44th Chess Olympiad. Their accomplishments highlight the importance of continuous support in unlocking the potential of young women in Indian chess.

Vinoda Kailas, Director and Trustee of the Pravaha Foundation, stated, "This initiative is not only about fostering talent but also about tackling the significant gender disparity in the sport. At Pravaha Foundation, our goal is to make the journey to Grandmaster a reality for more Indian women. Together with MGD1, we are developing an ecosystem that caters to every phase of a player's growth. This new cohort represents that vision, and we are thrilled to support them as they strive to transform the future of Indian chess."

Sreekar Channapragada, co-founder of MGD1, added, "Chess is among the most resource-intensive sports, and the path to Grandmaster can take over ten years of sustained effort and investment. Regrettably, many gifted players are unable to pursue their dreams due to financial limitations. At MGD1, we aim to create a system that enables this challenging journey by expanding funding for elite training, international exposure, and tournament participation. Achieving this is not simple, even with financial aid. What motivates us further is the glaring gender gap: of the 85 Grandmasters produced in India, only 3 are women. This alone is a strong reason to work towards getting more Indian women to the Grandmaster level."

Shubhi (15), who has clinched the National U-19 title and numerous international medals, along with Charvi (11), who received a nomination for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar and achieved over a 100-point rapid rating increase with a tournament victory in June 2023, are also beneficiaries of the program, having been initially included in 2023. Their return in the 2025 cohort emphasizes the positive influence that 64 Squares' support can have on these women players' journeys.