How a mother-daughter duo is changing Delhi’s chess scene
A chess parent building something for the chess community is a beautiful way to transform a personal journey into inspiration. Nidhi Bhasin, mother of WFM Shivika Rohilla, has done exactly that with Chess Coffee Connect in Delhi-NCR, a beautiful initiative where, as the name suggests, chess and coffee meet to create something special. They are also working to help underprivileged children learn chess by providing training, chess sets, and other essential materials through their initiatives. Inspired by their own experiences, the mother-daughter duo is trying to make chess fun, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. Read the full article to discover their journey, community events, and how they are shaping the chess culture in Delhi-NCR. Photo: Chess Coffee Connect
Brew your game!
I don’t visit cafés often, so my knowledge of the café world is quite limited. But one thing I have noticed is that cafés today are no longer just about coffee. They are evolving- book cafés, art cafés, pet cafés…I have always loved this concept. Picking a leisure activity or something that people enjoy and mixing it with the warm, social vibe of a café. Sounds like a good recipe for community! This wonderful concept exists in the chess world as well. While such places already exists since many years, it is now beginning to gain popularity in India. In this article, I will be sharing the story behind “Chess Coffee Connect”, a unique chess initiative by Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy in Delhi-NCR.
The person behind this initiative is Nidhi Bhasin, a chess mom and her inspiration is her daughter, Shivika Rohilla, a Women’s FIDE Master. Chess has become a central part of their family for more than a decade.
Shivika started playing chess at just six and a half, and from the beginning, her mother was by her side, accompanying her to tournaments, helping her prepare, and learning about the chess world, like every chess parent does. Her journey was full of long travel days, endless waiting hours during events, and emotional ups and downs. But instead of seeing these challenges as obstacles, she turned them into inspiration. Over time, she began to understand the emotions, the struggles, and the sense of community that bind chess families together. That’s where the seed for Chess Coffee Connect was planted.
Her idea soon turned into an amazing initiative that now hosts weekly events across Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon. And the response has been heartwarming! You will find players of every kind here, from children as young as four to seniors above seventy. IAS officers, homemakers, working professionals, retired players, and even specially-abled champions have shared the tables and chessboards at Chess Coffee Connect.
“We wanted people to enjoy chess and not always worry about ratings or rankings. Only when you truly enjoy something can you continue doing it.” says Nidhi.
Nidhi’s dream is to build a strong chess culture in Delhi-NCR, inspired by what she has seen in Chennai. During Shivika’s growing years, they often felt that Delhi lacked good tournaments and regular playing partners. The chess scene wasn’t as active, and finding the right opportunities was always a challenge. That’s when they thought “Why not bring the chess community together?” They now also run the Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy (SRCA). “We want to promote female chess players which we are doing through our Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy by giving special discounts and offers for girl players.” Nidhi shares.
The events they host are never just serious competition. They also conduct fun activities and lucky draws along with it. One such event is the upcoming “Halloween SRCA Rapid & Blitz Battle”. You can imagine the amount of fun that must be happening at these events. When asked about a favourite incident, Nidhi says,“It’s difficult to pick one.” But she mentioned a sweet memory where a 65-year-old gentleman told them it was his first time playing since school. “Moments like that make it all worth it.” Nidhi shares. Many mothers too have shared how relieved they feel to have a chess café nearby, where their kids can play and they can connect with other parents.
Nidhi also shared her biggest parenting lesson:
“As a parent, we need to be patient and remember why our child started playing chess in the first place. This journey is to be enjoyed. There will be roadblocks, just keep going. Chess has taught me to accept losses gracefully.”
Here is a lovely throwback! An interview from 2018 where a young Shivika shared her experience after a strong performance at the Mumbai Mayor’s Cup:
Fast forward a few years, she made headlines by defeating GM R. R. Laxman in the very first round in the Delhi GM International 2022 and that too from a lost position! It was her first-ever victory against a Grandmaster and a defining moment in her career. Check out this video to know how it happened:
Since then, Shivika has continued to shine on the international stage, most notably winning a silver medal at the Western Asian Youth Championship 2023 (Under-16 Girls). She now holds the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title and has already earned two Woman International Master (WIM) norms, with just one more to go for the next big milestone.
Shivika also shared what this initiative personally mean to her:
"Chess Coffee Connect for me personally is my second home . It’s the community I wish I could have had 10 years ago when I began chess. Chess is something that is a part of me , my persona and my nature and CCC is a place where this passion along with a little bit of fun can thrive . This culture of chess previously devoid in Delhi now is strengthening its roots here. I am the most ecstatic about this new chess revolution in Delhi because of our initiative. Apart from the usual competitive nature of this sport somewhere along the lines players forget what the game is really about which is enjoying and playing for the love of the game which is what this community is really about . CCC to me is everything chess should be - fun , accessible to everyone and mind blowing chess madness."
What makes CCC even more special is their heart for giving back. Through Helping Hands NGO, they provide free chess sets, free classes, and even sponsor tournament participation for underprivileged children. They also encourage donations of old laptops, chess books, and equipment to help these children. These initiatives make a big difference in nurturing the next generation of chess players.
The Chess Coffee Connect community is growing rapidly. The experiences of this powerful mother-daughter duo have shaped the way they organize these events. They always try to find ways to keep chess fun and engaging. A spooky twist to the chessboard is what they are aiming for with the upcoming Halloween SRCA Rapid & Blitz Battle. It will be held on 26th October at Binge Central, Noida. CCC often collaborates with different cafés across the city, bringing chess to new spaces and new people each time. If you are around Delhi-NCR, you are welcome to drop by and be part of fun! Check out the poster below:
Tournament details
Date: Sunday, 26th October 2025
Venue: Binge Central, Candor Techspace, Sector 62, Noida
Formats: Rapid (20+5) & Blitz (3+2)
Prize Pool: Rs. 11,000 + trophies, medals & surprise gifts
Categories: Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 & Open
Entry Fee: Rs. 799 for Rapid and Rs. 399 for Blitz
Check out the poster below for more details.
Register now
Important links
Chess Coffee Connect Instagram Page