Rohit Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 January 2025
Rising chess star R. Kashthuri Bhai, a two-time LG’s Commendation awardee and an international medalist from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Chennai Grandmasters Scholarship, worth ₹1 lakh. The scholarship, sponsored by the HelpChess Foundation, was announced during the live streams of the Chennai Grandmasters Chess tournament.
The HelpChess Foundation, which aims to ensure that lack of financial resources does not hinder talented players from pursuing their chess dreams, successfully raised over ₹1 lakh from 25 generous donors to support young chess talent like Kashthuri. Her remarkable achievements made her the ideal recipient for this scholarship, which will enable her to access high-quality coaching and refine her skills as she works towards her dream of becoming a Grandmaster.
Kashthuri’s notable accomplishments include:
- Silver Medalist in U-17 Blitz at the 17th Asian Schools Chess Championship, Tashkent, 2023.
- Bronze Medalist in U-17 Rapid at the 17th Asian Schools Chess Championship, Tashkent, 2023.
- Winner of the Andaman and Nicobar State Open Chess Championship, Port Blair, 2024.
- Winner of the 1st Late T Mohan Rao Memorial Open Chess Tournament, Port Blair, 2024.
Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA) has congratulated Kashthuri on her outstanding achievements, emphasizing the significance of this scholarship in nurturing talent from marginalised regions. ANCA also expressed gratitude to the HelpChess Foundation for providing this invaluable opportunity.