Two Nagpur teenagers run open rapid chess tournaments, third draws 258 players

Two Nagpur teenagers are making a name for themselves in the city's chess circles. Varad Gawande, 17, and Shanaya Shelkar, 16, organise large tournaments on their own and give chess enthusiasts a platform to play.

The two have started an initiative called NextGen Chess. Under it, they have so far held three Open One Day Rapid Chess Tournaments, and the number of players has grown each time.

The first tournament drew 148 players. The figure rose to 233 in the second, and 258 players took part in the third.

With that turnout, the third tournament was counted among the largest non-FIDE rapid chess tournaments in Nagpur in terms of participation. This shows their effort is getting a good response from people.

At this age, most children are busy with studies and routine extracurricular activities. Varad and Shanaya have instead taken on the demanding task of organising competitive sporting events. Handling registration and players, coordinating the tournament arrangements and making sure players of different ages get a chance to play are all their responsibility.

The success reflects not only their passion for chess. It also shows their organising skills, leadership qualities and ability to manage events with hundreds of players. By taking the initiative at such a young age, they are also showing how young people can contribute to promoting sport at the grassroots level.

The fourth tournament will be held on November 10. Encouraged by the response to the first three events, the organisers are now preparing for the fourth Open One Day Rapid Chess Tournament, scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Through NextGen Chess, the two aim to maintain this momentum, bring in more players and give chess players regular opportunities to test their skills in a competitive setting. Their initiative is emerging as a hopeful effort to nurture chess talent and strengthen the chess culture in the city.