15 young talents selected for Quantbox Research Scholarship worth Rs. 60 lakh
At HelpChess, we believe that financial constraints should never come in the way of a child's dream. When Quantbox Research approached us with the desire to support young chess talents, we knew something special was about to unfold. Together, we have instituted the Quantbox Research Scholarship: a landmark initiative of Rs. 60 lakh aimed at easing the burden on promising players. This year, 15 talented youngsters from across the country have been selected to receive this support. Read on to discover who these players are and how this support is already transforming their journeys.
Largest scholarship through HelpChess Foundation worth Rs. 60 Lakh!
India has an abundance of chess talents. However, access to opportunities is not. Chess is an expensive sport. The costs of professional coaching, travel for tournaments, entry fees, and study material can run into lakhs of rupees each year. This becomes a big barrier for players from humble backgrounds. Through the HelpChess Foundation, we have always tried to bridge that gap. Because of our generous contributors, we have been able to announce many scholarships to ease the financial burden on promising players. In this article, we will talk about the biggest scholarship through HelpChess Foundation: Quantbox Research Scholarship.
The relationship between Quantbox Research and Indian chess is not recent. It began in July 2023, when the high-frequency trading firm made an announcement of a five-year sponsorship deal worth Rs. 12 crores with the then-rising star Arjun Erigaisi. He soon broke into the elite 2800 Elo club and became only the 16th player in chess history to cross the 2800 Elo barrier. He continues to compete with the world’s best.
Later, Quantbox Research extended their support to Indian chess by taking a significant step beyond its association with Arjun. Their first tangible move in this direction came during the World Cup 2023, when Prashant Singh, the founder and Managing Director of Quantbox Research, personally contributed Rs. 2 lakh to the HelpChess Foundation. This amount was utilized to provide immediate support to young talents.
After this, in June 2025, Quantbox Research announced a scholarship worth Rs. 60 lakh (approximately US$ 70,000) in collaboration with the HelpChess Foundation. This marked the biggest scholarship initiative announced through the foundation to date. This highlighted the company's intentions of creating opportunities for multiple deserving players. We are now excited to announce the names of the players who have been selected for this scholarship:
1. Pranav V (Birth year: 2006)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 6,00,000 (Rs. 50,000 per month)
GM Pranav V has been on a remarkable upward trajectory over the past few years. He is a former World Junior Champion. He was one of the Indian players who kept the nation’s hopes alive for several days at the FIDE World Cup 2025. With a current FIDE rating of 2641, he is on course towards joining the 2700-rated players club.
Speaking about the scholarship, Pranav’s parents shared:
"As a parent, we are very happy that his ability is recognised and we are supported to help him achieve his passion. It is always a motivation for us when we receive this kind of support. The scholarship has boosted us as a team to move forward and reach the magical numbers in his career."
2. Pranav Anand (Birth year: 2006)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 6,00,000 (Rs. 50,000 per month)
Pranav Anand is the former Under-16 World Youth Chess Champion. He is climbing rapidly through the ranks to establish himself as a strong contender on the international circuit. More recently, he was in great form at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025, where he scored impressive wins against strong players.
He shared his thoughts on the scholarship:
I am very happy to have received this support after crossing 2600. I would like to thank Quantbox and Sagar for their help in my chess journey. Hopefully, I will be able to use the funds well and get to the next level of 2700. It will have a great impact on my chess career. I will be able to now spend more money on training/playing events.
3. Abhimanyu Puranik (Birth year: 2000)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 6,00,000 (Rs. 50,000 per month)
Abhimanyu Puranik, India’s 49th Grandmaster, is one of the strongest players the country has produced. He won a silver medal in the World Junior Championship in 2018. With the current rating of 2622, Abhimanyu is well-positioned to push towards the 2700 mark.
Reflecting on the support, he said:
"It feels great, firstly, seeing someone putting their faith in your ability to improve and back you. I do feel extra motivated due to this and I hope this goes a long way and I can make Quantbox & Chessbase India proud! The main thing about this scholarship is that you feel slightly less pressured financially and can do things more freely (just bought a new laptop for chess!) as well as experiment with your training by trying different coaches and so on which I believe is super important as path to improvement at this level is quite abstract, so its important to figure out your own way through it."
4. Aaryan Varshney (Birth year: 2005)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 5,40,000 (Rs. 45,000 per month)
Aaryan Varshney recently became India's 92nd Grandmaster. His story is very inspiring also because of the role of his father. When Aaryan was 7 years old, his father began teaching him chess, despite not being a trained coach himself. Using only ChessBase software, databases, and relentless analysis of every game Aaryan played, Gaurav guided his son to the grandmaster title. There is no doubt that he possesses immense potential, which makes him a deserving recipient of this scholarship. As a part of this scholarship, Aaryan received a high-performance Lenovo Legion 7 laptop. It is designed to handle the grueling computational demands of modern chess engines.
Speaking about the impact of the scholarship, Aaryan said:
"I am very excited to get the Quantbox Research Scholarship. It is a great honour for me to get motivated by this help. My sincere thanks to ChessBase India for giving me such valuable support. It will be a great assistance in changing my chess career. With the help of this fund, I will explore more and more foreign tours to reach a 2600 and higher FIDE rating as soon as possible. I am sure with the kind help of ChessBase and Quantbox Research Sponsorship, I shall leave no stone unturned and will achieve my targets at a very high pace."
5. Ethan Vaz (Birth year: 2011)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 4,80,000 (Rs. 40,000 per month)
Ethan Vaz is one of India’s most promising young chess players. He won the 54th National Junior Chess Championship in December. He also delivered an exceptional performance at the Western Asia Youth Chess Championships last year, where he returned with six medals. Ethan is on the path to becoming a Grandmaster. This journey demands relentless international exposure. As shared earlier by his father, the annual cost of pursuing chess at this level easily crosses Rs. 25 lakh, making long-term financial stability a critical factor. In this context, the Quantbox Research Scholarship will provide crucial support to him.
6. Goutham Krishna (Birth year: 2010)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 4,80,000 (Rs. 40,000 per month)
15-year-old Goutham Krishna's eyes are set on earning the Grandmaster title. Last year, he won the 50th National Sub-Junior (Under-15) Chess Championship. This victory earned him a spot in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship that will be held this year in June. He also finished as the first runner-up at the 62nd National Senior Chess Championship.
Gautham's mother shared her thoughts about the scholarship:
"As Goutham’s parent, I feel deeply grateful and proud that he has been awarded the Quantbox Research Scholarship. This generous support of Rs. 4,80,000 is both a recognition of his hard work and a vital encouragement for his chess journey. It has already eased the financial challenges of training and tournament participation, and we were especially proud to see him compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship 2025, where he gained invaluable international exposure. Looking ahead, this scholarship will enable him to access stronger coaching, participate in more global tournaments, and pursue his long‑term dream of becoming a Grandmaster. We believe this support will be a cornerstone in shaping his chess career and helping him reach new heights."
7. Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (Birth year: 2013)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 3,00,000 (Rs. 25,000 per month)
Madhvendra Pratap Sharma is a young and hardworking player from Madhya Pradesh. With a current FIDE rating of 2353, he is aiming to achieve the International Master title. One of the biggest milestones of his career in 2025 was winning the Under-12 Asian Chess Championship last year.
Expressing his gratitude, Madhvendra shared:
"I would like to thank Sagar Shah sir, Niklesh sir, ChessBase India and the entire team for giving me this laptop. This laptop means a lot to me. Its quality and storage are so good. It will help me in learning and improving my game. I am really thankful for this amazing opportunity given to me. And I truly love it. I am truly thankful and grateful for your support and encouragement to do better in my chess career."
8. Aarit Kapil (Birth year: 2015)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 3,00,000 (Rs. 25,000 per month)
One of the most famous stories of Aarit Kapil is when he, at just nine years old, sat in a hotel room in Batumi and nearly defeated the greatest chess player of all time! It was June 24, 2025. Aarit was in Georgia to compete in the FIDE World Cadets Cup in the Under-10 category. He casually participated in Chess.com's Titled Tuesday. He faced Magnus Carlsen with black pieces. The youngster held a winning position for quite a long, but due to time pressure, he couldn't convert the advantage and the game ended in a draw. This talented boy is currently ranked no. 4 in the U-11 category (among players born in 2015).
Aarit's father, Vijay Kapil shared his thoughts on the scholarship:
"Our sincere thanks to Quantbox, ChessBase India, and Sagar Shah sir for their unwavering support through the scholarship program. This opportunity has provided Aarit with the world-class coaching and tournament exposure necessary to refine his craft. The impact of this scholarship is clearly visible in his recent results, and we are excited for what the future holds with your continued guidance."
9. Sarbartho Mani (Birth year: 2016)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 3,00,000 (Rs. 25,000 per month)
Sarbartho is the child prodigy to look out for. At just nine years old, he has achieved what many players can only dream of in a lifetime. Last year, he won the FIDE World Cadet Chess Cup 2025 in the U-10 Category. A particularly special moment for Sarbartho came when he got the opportunity to play alongside his idol, five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships last year. Sarbartho has shone in many international tournaments before as well. Given his extraordinary talent, will definitely benefit from this scholarship.
His father expressed his thoughts about the scholarship:
"Building a career in chess requires extensive coaching and travel across the globe, which comes at a huge financial cost. Chess players are hardly getting financial support from government or non-govt. sources. In such a moment of need and crisis, getting the Quantbox Scholarship for Sarbartho's future progress means a lot to us. Such scholarships not only ease the financial burdens a bit but also acknowledge and appreciate the kid's hard work and achievements. We sincerely thank you for selecting Sarbartho for this scholarship."
10. Shaunak Badole (Birth year: 2012)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 3,00,000 (Rs. 25,000 per month)
Shaunak is the 38th National Under-13 Chess Champion. This victory made him eligible to represent India at the World and Asian Youth Chess Championships. He has performed very well in the national tournaments. His current classical rating stands at 2319. Earning the International Master's Title is his current aim.
When asked about how he feels about the scholarship, he said:
"I feel incredibly grateful and motivated. Knowing that a prestigious organisation believes in my potential gives me a massive boost in my confidence. This Scholarship had helped me take coaching from GMs and will also help me in playing tournaments."
11. Arshiya Das (Birth year: 2010)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 3,00,000 (Rs. 25,000 per month)
Arshiya is the first Woman International Master from North East India. She is the current National Subjunior Girls Chess Champion. She is the winner of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. The list of Arshiya's achievements is long. She is the hope for countless young chess players in North East India, especially girls. This scholarship is definitely helpful for her as she continues to blaze a trail for the generations that will follow.
Arshiya's father, Purnendu Das, expressed his thoughts about the scholarship:
"That's a great support to her. With this scholarship, she extended her Killer Chess subscription for one year, which was discontinued due to a lack of funds. Also, the impact of this scholarship is such that due to this, we could plan her ongoing Europe tour from where she got her WIM title. We convey our sincere thanks to ChessBase India for selecting her for the said scholarship. As everyone knows, playing many tournaments in the country and outside the country is very expensive. So this type of support will definitely boost players like Arshiya from our North East India."
12. Divi Bijesh (Birth year: 2015)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 2,40,000 (Rs. 20,000 per month)
This 10-year-old child prodigy from Kerala has an insatiable appetite for medals! The year 2025 was a golden one for Divi. She won the FIDE World Cup Cadets tournament in the U-10 category and became the first Indian to win this title. At the same tournament, she demonstrated her versatility across formats by winning gold in the Rapid format and silver in the Blitz format. She also clinched gold at the Commonwealth Championship in the U-12 category. This scholarship is the fuel that will power her journey from prodigy to legend!
13. Sharvaanica AS (Birth year: 2015)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 2,40,000 (Rs. 20,000 per month)
The 100% girl of Indian chess, Sharvaanica, is currently ranked world no. 2 among girls aged 11 and below. She won gold at the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship 2025 in the U-10 category. Her mother had shared earlier that Sharvaanica has not received any big sponsorship yet. That wait for a big sponsorship finally ended with the Quantbox Research Scholarship!
14. Pratitee Bordoloi (Birth year: 2013)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 2,40,000 (Rs. 20,000 per month)
Pratitee clinched gold at the FIDE World Cup Cadets 2025 in the U-12 category. She won two Silver medals at the Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2025, one in the Classical format and another in the Rapid format. She finished as the second runner-up at the 41st National Junior Girls 2025 championship.
Regarding the scholarship, Pratitee's mother shared:
"We would like to thank ChessBase and HelpChess for coming forward to support Pratitee in her chess journey. The scholarship is helping Pratitee prepare better by giving her access to structured, high-quality coaching as well as a few regular playing partners. Without the scholarship, we had to limit the number of coaching classes and practice sessions; however, the scholarship has now provided significant financial relief to her parents as well."
15. Anish Sarkar (Birth year: 2021)
Scholarship amount: Rs. 1,20,000 (Rs. 10,000 per month)
Anish is already young. But still, let's say, when he was super young, he developed an interest in chess. In November 2024, Anish Sarkar became the youngest FIDE-rated chess player. His parents did not have proper knowledge of chess, but they bought him a chess set. Little did they know they had ignited a historic career! His competitive debut was at the West Bengal State Under-9 Open in October 2024. A week later, he played in the West Bengal State Under-13 Open, the same tournament where he got his first rating. Anish is already a recipient of the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Such a rare talent must be nurtured with care. That's why he was selected as the special talent to be supported through this scholarship.
Anish's mother, Reshma, shared what they feel about this scholarship:
"We are very much grateful to ChessBase India for giving Anish the Quantbox Research Scholarship. It will help a lot in Anish's chess career. Your belief in Anish is very important for us."
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