IM Soumya Swaminathan conducts virtual camp for differently abled players

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 15/05/2026

IM Soumya Swaminathan conducted a four-day virtual chess camp exclusively for differently abled players. She trained participants through interactive sessions focused on practical chess understanding and decision-making. The camp covered important topics such as positional evaluation, pattern recognition, equal positions, and critical moments in a game. Around 30 players attended the camp. This was a meaningful initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible learning environment for differently abled chess players. Read the article to know more about.

Making chess more inclusive

For many differently abled chess players, finding the right training environment is not always easy. While online resources and coaching opportunities have increased over the years, accessible and inclusive learning spaces remain limited. These players need coaches who understand their unique needs. With this objective in mind, IM Soumya Swaminathan recently organised a four-day virtual chess camp exclusively for differently abled players. The camp was conducted from 27th to 30th April.

By taking the time to conduct this specialised camp, Soumya showed how thoughtful and inclusive initiatives can be.

The response to the camp was amazing. A total of 38 players applied for the programme. Out of these, 35 participants were selected. On most days, around 25 to 30 participants attended the Zoom sessions. The camp ran for three hours each day, focusing entirely on middlegame decision-making.

A glimpse from the virtual training sessions.

The camp syllabus was structured across four days:

Day 1: Pillars for evaluating a position well

Day 2: Pattern recognition

Day 3: How to approach equalish positions

Day 4: How to recognize and play in critical positions

Players working on a position.

Feedback from players

The participants responded very positively to the camp and highlighted both the quality of instruction and the practical value of the lessons.

Selva

“The camp by IM Soumya Swaminathan was fantastic! I really enjoyed the interactive sessions and her clear explanations. I learned the most about positional play and how to plan in the middlegame. Her insights on using your pieces actively changed how I think during games. The most valuable thing I learned was how to assess positions calmly and find candidate moves like a pro. She also shared practical tips on tournament prep and mindset that I’m already using.”

Rithic

“First of all, thanks for the camp, sir. I learned a lot about piece activity. If possible, please try to organise two or three camps in a year.”

Satyaprakash Shrivastav

“First of all, thank you so much, Soumya ma’am, for giving your valuable time to teach us. Personally, I have learned a lot from you, and I truly believe I will see even more improvement in my game. I hope that in the future you will conduct more camps so that we can continue improving our game. Thank you so much!"

Ezhil Arasi G

“The camp with IM Soumya Swaminathan was very helpful to me. I haven’t studied a lot, but she explained things in a simple way, and I learned a lot. I especially appreciated how she talked about thinking clearly and making a plan during the game. I’m already looking forward to another camp like this, and I believe it will help many others as well.”

Samarth Gundewar

“Thanks for the camp. Because of ma’am, I have improved a lot. Her teaching skills are excellent.”

Vivek Watpade

“I met her at the Superheroes Cup 2026 and asked for tips and areas to improve. She guided me a lot. I had thought I would train for only 2–3 days, but I got this opportunity. In these four days of training under her, there was a huge difference from random calculations to accurate calculations with proper technique, better balance in the middlegame, pawn structure, and endgame understanding. I learned a lot through the important games and puzzles. I got exactly what I needed and learned many valuable things. Thanks to her for sharing chess games with captions. Since I can’t hear, the captions help me understand everything clearly. I hope that whenever I win an international tournament, I will dedicate the credit to her.”

Rohit Jadhav

“I learned a lot from this. Thank you very much, Soumya ma’am.”

Nikhil Adnani

“It was a great experience learning from one of the very best Indian chess has to offer. She was very patient, supportive, and cooperative. She taught all the concepts very clearly and made sure that the sessions were inclusive for all. I am extremely grateful to Soumya ma’am for imparting this invaluable knowledge, and to ChessBase India for organising the Superheroes Cup, which served as a catalyst for this camp, and for all their contributions to chess for differently abled people and Indian chess in general.”

I found the camp very meaningful, mainly thanks to the sincerity and effort put in by all the players during our sessions. I feel many of them are much stronger than their current rating. They will surely benefit from access to regular training, competitive opportunities, and mentorship. I hope this camp was a step towards bridging this gap.
- Soumya Swaminathan

Initiatives like these require not only time and effort, but also genuine intent. By conducting this camp, Soumya Swaminathan created a valuable learning space for differently abled players. Such initiatives will help build a stronger and more inclusive chess ecosystem in India!

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