How much does an International Master spend on chess in a year?

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 26/01/2026

Every year, IM Nikhil Dixit shares an honest breakdown of how much he spends on his chess career. He started this as a personal Reddit post and it has now become a widely read annual reflection, crossing over 500,000 views in the past. In 2025, the numbers were especially significant because this was the year Nikhil finally completed his International Master title. In total, his chess-related expenses for the year amounted to Rs. 9,75,000 (approximately $10,720). Beyond the numbers, this breakdown offers insight into the financial realities of pursuing professional chess in India.

The financial side of chess

Every ambitious chess player eventually runs into the same practical question: how much can I afford to keep playing? Entry fees may look manageable on paper, but once travel, accommodation, food, coaching, and study material are added, a single tournament can cost more than several months of preparation. In India, most players fund their own careers or rely on support from their parents. Many players wonder if they should travel abroad for stronger events or stick to domestic tournaments. Is it better to play fewer tournaments and prepare deeply, or to stay active and chase opportunities as they come?

Nikhil Dixit’s yearly expense breakdown addresses these questions through numbers. He has documented exactly what he spent in 2025, when he completed his International Master title. This could be a good reference point for players and parents trying to plan their own chess journeys.

How much I spent in 2025

by Nikhil Dixit

About the figures

All expenses were tracked in Indian Rupees, although some payments were made in EUR or USD during international travel. For the benefit of international readers, amounts have been converted to USD at an approximate rate of 1 USD = Rs. 90, with a margin of error of 3%-5%. Tournament and coaching costs vary widely depending on location and individual circumstances, so these figures are best viewed as a personal reference rather than a universal benchmark.

Tournament expenses

Graz Open and Cannes Open – ₹1,50,000 / $1,670

I played these events with zero expectations. At one point, I was very desperate for a title, so this time I decided to go in with a completely free mindset. The Cannes venue was beautiful, and I genuinely enjoyed the city vibes.

Budapest Closed GM Tournaments – ₹2,10,000 / $2,335

These were my best events of the year and created some unforgettable memories. I gained around 65 rating points and reached a live rating of 2395. These tournaments helped me get very close to completing my IM title, something I had been struggling with for the last 5–6 years. Instead of waiting for another major event, I decided to play a rating tournament in Pune. That event, concluded in May 2025, proved decisive and finally helped me cross the 2400 rating mark and secure my IM title.

Interview with Nikhil Dixit after he became an IM. | Video: ChessBase India Marathi

Abu Dhabi Masters and Fujairah Masters - ₹1,45,000 INR / $1600

Both are extremely strong tournaments with rating cut-offs above 2200–2300. I gained valuable experience playing against 2300-rated players and also experienced what it feels like to be the higher-rated player in many games.

White Horse Closed GM Tournament - ₹1,40,000 INR / $1550

I played this tournament in October 2025 without much hope, but it gave me belief regarding my GM norm and title chances. I gained 16 rating points with a K-factor of 10 and defeated the strongest opponent of my career.

Finished third in the tournament, scoring 6/9. | Photo: Tomas Danada

I also scored my highest-rated victory against GM Pechac Jergus.

Rilton Cup 2025-26 - ₹1,35,000 / $1500

This was my third time playing the Rilton Cup. Stockholm is a wonderful city, and I always feel a special vibe while playing chess in Sweden.

Rapid and Blitz tournaments

I played around 10-12 rapid events this year. Thanks to my IM title, I get free entry in most tournaments and sometimes even free accommodation. I don’t have exact calculations here, but roughly, I spent around ₹40,000 in total.

Study Material and Software

I bought the Mega Database 2026, ChessBase Magazine, and ChessBase 16 program as a bundle. Special thanks to CB India for the discounted pricing.

ChessBase Package – ₹12,000 / $132

I bought the Mega Database 2026, ChessBase Magazine, and ChessBase 16 program as a bundle. Special thanks to ChessBase India for the discounted pricing.

Books and Chessable Courses – ₹45000

I bought several books and courses this year, including:

● Learn from the Legends – Mihail Marin

● The Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play - Axel Smith

● The Secret Ingredient – Jan Markos & David Navara

● Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices - Ivan Cheparinov

● Associative Thinking - Mikhail Shereshevsky

● Sharp Endgames - Esben Lund

● 1000 Chess Problems – Yakov Vladimirov

Chessable courses included:

● Calculate Like a Beast: The Moranda Method

● The Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play

I also bought a few middlegame, opening, and endgame courses from Modern Chess.

Chess coaching and Camps - ₹80,000 / $886

I got the opportunity to learn from GM Vishnu Prasanna and attended two training camps, one in February and one in July. The total cost includes airfare, camp fees, accommodation, and all related expenses.

IM title application fee (₹17,600)

Once a player completes all the title requirements, they have to pay a certain amount of fee to the federation to claim the title. I paid ₹17,600 ($200) to the All India Chess Federation to process the application.

How do I manage these expenses?

Affiliates

I have joined multiple affiliate programs and promote them from time to time, including Modern Chess, ChessMood, Chessify, and others. I share discount codes on my website, which benefits users while giving me a small commission.

Individual chess coaching

I usually work with around 12–16 students at a time through online one-on-one sessions. Due to my blog and my students’ recent results, I received a lot of inquiries this year and couldn’t accept everyone. After becoming an IM, I started charging $35–45 per hour. I coach when I am at home and pause coaching during tournament periods.

Group classes and camps

This year, I experimented with group classes for 1700+ rated players and conducted 2–3 camps for 1700 and 1900+ players. They worked well overall, but managing everything as a freelancer becomes challenging, especially during tournament travel.

My own products

A small portion of my income comes from my own chess products. I launched one course and plan to add 3–4 more in the coming year.

Tournament winnings

I didn’t play any classical tournaments where I had strong chances of winning big prizes, so earnings were limited. My total tournament winnings were roughly ₹1,60,000 / $1,800 for the year.

Is it worth it?

Yes, absolutely. It was worth it because I completed my IM title. This is my biggest achievement so far, and I am extremely proud of it. Everyone’s journey is different, but personally, I felt a huge sense of relief after finishing this title. I am not going all-in for the GM title right now, but I will definitely play some classical tournaments in 2026.

Your thoughts...

If you are an active chess player at any level, I would love to hear your thoughts- how much you spend on coaching, tournaments, or study material. If you have any curious questions about this post, feel free to reach out at contact@nikhildixit.com.