India’s dominance in world chess to be a key consideration for brands in 2025

The year 2024 witnessed a seismic shift in the world of chess, accentuated by the breathtaking rise of Indian prodigy D Gukesh. He won the World Championship, captivating global attention and igniting a renewed fervour for the ancient game. This surge in popularity, coupled with the impressive performances of other Indian players on the global stage and a significant influx of sports sponsorship, has set the stage for an exciting future for chess in 2025.

India’s dominance in Chess and road ahead in 2025

Kjell Madland, Founder, Chairman and Tournament Director, Norway Chess, expects there will be even more ways to show and convey chess in both apps, websites/ streaming, television and other places. “Bringing out the genuine, exciting and strong that lies in top chess in a respectful and entertaining way to attract more people is a trend that I believe will be strengthened. I believe that physical chess tournaments with more content and shorter thinking time will be important, prizes will increase and chess players will become more famous and earn more money. I hope and believe that we, as organizers of the strongest chess tournaments, will bring in big global brands as sponsors as a result of the significant increase in interest in the sport of chess,” he added.

Sameer Pathak, CEO, Global Chess League, noted, “With the rapid growth in players and popularity, I anticipate an increase in technology-based innovations in chess, which will bring fans closer to the game. Moreover, the rise of Indian chess is likely to result in more global chess events being held in India, expanding the overall chess market and attracting more brands to participate. Additionally, chess events and broadcasts will become increasingly audience-friendly, boosting viewership as interest in the game rises and understanding deepens. At the Global Chess League, we consistently engage with chess audiences at various levels to gather insights that help us design League outputs that make chess more accessible and engaging for the masses. This approach has fostered innovations in chess by incorporating elements such as point systems from sports like football and cricket.”

Sreekar Channapragada, Co-Founder, MGD1, highlighted some trends that will dominate in 2025:

• Enhanced Training Programs: The integration of advanced AI and machine learning tools is anticipated to revolutionize training methodologies, offering personalized coaching experiences.
• Increased Corporate Sponsorship: With the rising prominence of Indian players, more corporations are expected to invest in chess, leading to larger prize pools and better infrastructure.
• Promotion of Gender Equality: Initiatives aimed at increasing female participation and addressing gender disparities in chess are likely to gain momentum, fostering a more inclusive environment.
• Expansion of Grassroots Programs: Efforts to introduce chess in schools and rural areas are expected to continue, broadening the base of talent and interest in the sport.

Expectation from 2025

Kjell Madland is looking forward to many exciting tournaments and a great development in chess as a much more visible sport for the public. He added, “Norway Chess will also show new developments and hopefully reach an even larger audience. We at Norway Chess will continue to send TV broadcasts to Indian and Chinese TV viewers as we did in 2024. This makes exciting chess broadcasts available to everyone in India as well.”

Sameer Pathak, too, is excited about the technological innovations that will bring fans closer to the game of chess. “For instance, the Global Chess League has already shown how AI, 5G, the metaverse, virtual reality, and data analytics can engage a global audience. Continued advancements in technology will significantly transform how we play and experience the game, making it more accessible to everyone,” he added.

Sreekar Channapragada believed, “The chess community looks forward to building on the successes of 2024, with expectations of continued dominance in international competitions. The emergence of new talents from grassroots programs and increased support for female players are also highly anticipated.”

Headwinds and tailwinds that chess industry could face in 2025

According to Kjell Madland, “The biggest challenge is to get enough sponsors to build chess as a sport and for the organizers to make money. Investors are important but another challenge is that it is tight in the international chess calendar where it is difficult for international organizers and the best players to find time.”

Sameer Pathak, noted, “Chess, more than any other sport in India, is experiencing a significant surge in interest. This growth can be attributed to the sport’s low barriers to entry, as it is accessible to individuals of all genders, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds. As the only global sport with Indian origins, chess holds historical significance, and the achievements of our players resonate strongly with the public. Notably, many of these impressive performances are led by teenagers, suggesting that this trend will continue for a long time. The arrival of the Global Chess League on India’s leading OTT platform, alongside other international events, provides chess enthusiasts with much-needed inspiration and aspiration. The government's support, along with progressive initiatives from sports bodies, including the introduction of chess in schools and backing for chess in the Summer Olympics, will contribute to making chess achievements sustainable for decades.”

Sreekar Channapragada noted few of the headwinds and tailwinds as follows:

Tailwinds:

• Government and Corporate Support: Continued financial backing is expected to drive the growth and professionalization of chess in India.
• Technological Advancements: Ongoing innovations in training and accessibility are likely to enhance player development and engagement.

Headwinds:

• Addressing Gender Disparities: Efforts are needed to ensure equal opportunities and support for female players to achieve a balanced representation in the sport.
• Sustaining Interest: Maintaining the current momentum and interest in chess amid competing entertainment and sports options will be a challenge.
• Infrastructure Development: Ensuring adequate facilities and resources across diverse regions remains a critical area for growth.

Decoding the Indian chess landscape in 2024

The global chess market is expected to grow from $2.2 billion in 2023 to $3 billion by 2032, said Sameer Pathak, referring to a report. He also noted the remarkable surge in people playing chess post-COVID due to its accessibility and engaging indoor, family sport.

Noting the significant growth of young people taking an avid interest in chess, Kjell Madland said, “This means that investment in social media and the emergence of new players is increasing strongly. There are far more people now who make a living working with chess, the emergence of Chess influencers and chess commentators is increasing and really very new.”

He further added, “The more traditional forms of showing chess are changing and several new tournament formats are emerging. Norway Chess has been early on in improving game formats, creating new things and commercializing chess and getting chess on TV and large surfaces on social media. Now more are coming after. With increased interest, more money also comes into play with bigger prize pools in the biggest and most important tournaments/ competitions.”

Sameer Pathak considers the historic twin Chess Olympiad gold, and Gukesh’s world championship crown as the highlight for Indian chess. He pointed out, “Currently, chess is the only sport in India that consistently has 3 to 4 players ranked in the top 10 in the world, along with a strong pipeline of talented players in the top 50 and 100. This bodes well for the growth and visibility of the sport in the country. Additionally, chess.com – the world’s largest chess platform and a partner in the Global Chess League – has announced that Indian players now make up the largest share on their platform, with an impressive 17 million games played daily over the past few days. This is a very encouraging sign for the future of chess in India.”

Acknowledging the landmark achievement of 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju, MGD1’s Sreekar Channapragada said, “Additionally, India secured historic double gold medals in both the open and women's categories at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, underscoring the nation’s dominance in the sport. These accomplishments have elevated India’s status in the global chess community and inspired a new generation of players.” 

Key trends and developments in 2024

Kjell Madland noted, “There has been a change in that there have been fewer large chess tournaments on the web and more physical chess tournaments as there were before the pandemic. There have also been several chess tournaments with fast formats such as Blitz, Rapid, Armageddon and 960 Fischer chess. Norway Chess has made many new and audience-friendly developments in chess and in 2024 we had the world's first equal tournaments for women with equal prizes.”

In 2024, the trend to make chess more accessible and appealing to a broader audience beyond just hardcore fans gained significant momentum. Sameer Pathak said, “We recognized this shift early at the Global Chess League and created a unique viewing experience. We introduced an innovative camera setup, engaging commentary, and new rules that made the matches more exciting for fans to watch and follow. Additionally, we incorporated elements like fireworks, Mexican waves, and enthusiastic crowd interactions at the venue. As a result, the broadcast saw a remarkable growth of over 270% in viewership for Season 2 in 2024 compared to Season 1 in India, highlighting the tremendous potential of this initiative.”

Chess influencers such as Sagar Shah and Tania Sachdeva are playing a significant role in the chess community and are beginning to gain recognition in mainstream culture. Prominent figures from other sports, like cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who are passionate about chess, are becoming increasingly active in this area. Additionally, crossover stars like popular comedian Samay Raina are dedicating more of their efforts to chess than ever. New influencers are also emerging, bringing fresh perspectives to the game.

Pathak further said, “Brands are increasingly recognizing the potential of associating with chess. Chess has become the “new cool” among young people in India, particularly following the historic achievement of a teenage Indian World Champion. This significant milestone is expected to draw in more players and, consequently, new fans to the game.”

Sreekar Channapragada pointed out the following trends:

• Youth Ascendancy: Young talents such as Arjun Eragasi, Gukesh Dommaraju and R Praggnanandhaa has made significant strides on the international stage, inspiring widespread interest among Indian youth.
• Technological Integration: The use of online platforms and AI-driven training tools has become prevalent, enhancing accessibility and skill development for players nationwide.
• Gender Representation: While there have been significant achievements, there is a growing recognition of the need to address gender disparities in chess, with calls for increased support and opportunities for female players.

Also Read: Regional content, smartphones drive India's OTT growth in 2024: OTTplay