50 years in chess - Bharat Singh Chauhan

by Devansh Singh - 03/06/2026

If you visit a tournament where Bharat Singh Chauhan is an organizer or part of the core team, more often than not, you will see him playing blitz against young talents, fellow organizers or just about anyone he finds. This stems from his deep love for the game. From a competitive state champion to the Chairman of the FIDE Advisory Board, the journey of Bharat Singh Chauhan has been quite an important one for Indian chess. Read the article to know more.

A Lifelong Devotion to the 64 Squares

Mr Chauhan's relationship with chess began at the board in 1976. A talented player in his own right, he was a Delhi University Bronze Medalist in 1978 and went on to become the Haryana State Champion multiple times (1982, 1983, 1986). His competitive spirit eventually transitioned into a passion for coaching and officiating, earning him the title of International Arbiter in 1993.

Bharat Singh Chauhan (left) playing against Vishy Anand

The Mastermind Behind Mega Events

If India is now considered a global hub for chess, a role in it has been played by Bharat Singh Chauhan. He has been the driving force behind:

The 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad (Chennai, 2022): As Tournament Director, he successfully hosted this massive event with 186 participating countries in a record-breaking span of just four months.
Bharat Singh Chauhan with Rahul Gandhi during the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad
The Delhi International Open: For 23 years, he has run this prestigious tournament, making it a staple on the international circuit.

Mr Bharat Singh Chauhan, during the 18th Delhi International Open

Gukesh's final and defining GM norm was achieved on January 15, 2019, at the 17th Delhi International Grandmaster Open

A beautiful pic during the 16th Delhi International Grandmaster Open

Global Chess League: He served as the Tournament Director for the league's high-profile seasons in Dubai, London, and Mumbai.
Mr Bharat Singh with Magnus
Tournament Director of Global Chess League
World Championships: He played a role in bringing the legendary Anand-Carlsen World Championship match to Chennai in 2013 and organised the World Junior Championship in New Delhi in 2019.

Magnus Carlsen is now considered a GOAT. But his reign began when he beat Anand in Chennai, India in 2013

As Secretary/President of Delhi Chess Association organized one National Championship every year for the last eighteen years.

Commonwealth Chess Championships: The man behind 6 Commonwealth championships in Delhi in 2007, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All the events were a massive success, with participation from a maximum number of countries coming under the Commonwealth flag.

Bharat Singh wearing a t-shirt with a quote that he deeply believes in.

With Rani Hamid from Bangladesh at the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2018

One thing Bharat Singh always did was to stay in touch with the young talents of the country and motivate them.

Can you recognise the Indian talents sitting with Mr Bharat Singh Chauhan?

Global Leadership and Vision

Bharat Singh's work extends far beyond Indian borders. Just recently, on May 18, 2026, he was unanimously re-elected as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association for the 2026–2030 term. His roles as the Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation and his leadership within FIDE highlight him as an important personality in the world of chess.

"Bharat Singh Chauhan has played a pivotal role in the promotion of chess in Asia, laying the foundations for the continent's current success." — Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President.

Key Roles & Achievements at a Glance

Role	Organization
Chairman	FIDE Advisory Board
Chairman	Commonwealth Chess Association
Deputy President	Asian Chess Federation
Former Secretary	All India Chess Federation (AICF)
Tournament Director	44th Chess Olympiad & Global Chess League

Bharat Singh Chauhan's tryst with chess began in 1976 and in 2026 it has completed 50 years. There have been lot of things he has done that has been covered in Media in the media in the past. However, what has been extremely valuable is the work he has done away from the eyes of media - one of them being helpful innumerable players for their visa issues under high pressure scenarios. He tried to bring the best team together for the Chess Olympiads. The 2018 Chess Olympiad was one where India had both Vishy Anand in the open section and Koneru Humpy in the women's section on the top board and it would not have been possible without someone taking the efforts to meet the players and understanding their requirements.

Editor's Note

I met Bharat Singh Chauhan a lot of times, often at the prize distribution ceremonies of any major event in Delhi, but also at one of the most memorable times for Indian Chess. At the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, I was a volunteer there, and my work was at the Radisson Blu hotel, where the Indian team was staying with all the top teams. One night at around 11:30, he came with a wrapped chessboard and asked me to come with him. I asked, "Where are we going, sir?" he said, " Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu is here, so we are giving him a chessboard signed by Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen."
After coming back from the meeting room, I said, " Thanks for bringing the Olympiad here, thank you so much", and asked for a selfie.

Me with Mr Bharat Singh Chauhan during the 44th Olympiad

The signed board of Vishy and Carlsen

50 years in any domain is rare! Thanks to Bharat Singh Chauhan's efforts, chess in India has grown immensely. We hope he continues his excellent work in the years to come as well.

Fritz 21 is here!