Join us at The Big Chess Summer Camp 2025 from 9th May to 14th May
The Big Chess Summer Camp 2025 is back! It will be held from 9th May to 14th May, 4-8 PM, at the Atrium 5 of the Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Mumbai. This place will be a wonderland for players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are just starting out, looking to improve, or just want to play for fun, this camp is for you. And the best part is that it’s completely free! Every edition of the camp has welcomed around 500 enthusiastic participants, and hopefully, this year will be no different. You will have the chance to learn through training sheets of four different levels and games. The camp is all about exploring chess in your own way. Check out the article for more details.
The secret sauce to learning
New sport, new instrument, new language… the process of learning something new is familiar to all of us. What do you think is the most important thing in the learning process? Guidance? Practice? Resources? The list is endless. These are undoubtedly important, but in my own experience, the most powerful ingredient in learning is freedom. Think about it. You might have a world-class coach by your side, but you are not free to explore your own ideas. You might practice for countless hours, but you don't have the liberty to experiment with different techniques. You could have a wealth of resources, but you can't approach them in your own way. Wouldn't that make you feel like your progress is constrained?
We believe that every meaningful learning journey must be rooted in freedom. That’s exactly what we practice at our chess camps. We create an environment where people can explore the game in a way that excites them. Since 2023, we have been running these chess camps at the Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club. This year, the summer camp will take place from 9th May to 14th May. You can just watch the video below to get a glimpse of the camp’s vibe:
Camp Details
Dates: 9th May to 14th May
Venue: Atrium 5, Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Kurla, Mumbai.
Time: 4 PM - 8 PM IST. (2 PM - 8 PM on Saturday and Sunday).
Level: Open to all skill levels.
Age group: Open to all ages.
Cost: Absolutely free!
Who can participate in this camp?
Simple answer: Anyone! Never played before but eager to learn? You are welcome. Know the basics and want to level up? You are welcome. Looking to sharpen specific areas of your game? You are welcome. Just want to play, have fun, and meet fellow chess lovers? You are more than welcome. No matter where you are on your chess journey (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), this camp is for you.
Choose the method that works for you!
What is the process like?
Our philosophy is simple: Learn at your own pace! You walk into the camp venue and register. That’s it. No batch numbers, no rigid schedules. We converse with you, get a sense of your chess level, and hand you a sheet that suits your learning needs.
Each sheet focuses on a specific topic and contains handpicked problems for you to solve. You take your time and work through them, and when you are ready, one of our coaches or volunteers will sit with you to discuss your answers. Once you are confident, you pick up the next sheet. No pressure. No rush. Just pure learning.
All the sheets are divided into four levels, so you can start exactly where you need to.
Level 1 is all about basics, how the pieces move, how the game works, and a few key principles to get you going.
Level 2 will include tactics and important concepts to build a solid foundation of the game.
Level 3 will be slightly advanced with topics like endgames, positional ideas, and more.
Level 4 is for experienced players who enjoy tougher challenges. It will contain complex positions that will really test your skills.
Everyone who completes all the sheets up to Level 3 will receive a certificate at the end of the camp!
We often have young children walking into the camp. They get very curious, excited, and ready to explore the world of chess. So we have something special for them! We keep the ChessPa Activity sheets so they can introduce chess playfully and creatively. They can colour or solve some puzzles and learn while having fun. These sheets are perfect for children as young as 3 years old.
Maybe you are not too excited about working on sheets. Maybe you just want to play chess. No worries, we have got you covered! Every table at the camp is set up with a chessboard. All you need to do is find a partner or bring one along.
Meet the coaches
The camp will have three head coaches who are deeply involved in every step of this process. They have thoughtfully designed the entire training material for this camp. Not only this, they will be present throughout the camp to guide, encourage, and sometimes even challenge you! They will connect with each one of you personally and address your doubts.
Heroes of the camp
Such camps wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers. They are the heart of the camp. They make sure everything runs smoothly. Whether it’s setting up the venue, helping you find the right sheet, or discussing a tricky position, they are always there, with a smile, when you need them. Many of them are strong players themselves, and they show up not just to help, but because they genuinely love the game and the learning environment we have built together.
If you would like to contribute as a volunteer and help make this camp a successful event, please fill out this Google form.
Become a Volunteer
A huge thanks to Phoenix Marketcity, Mumbai, for making our camp a reality! Their incredible support and the awesome Atrium 5 space allow us to host everything from chess sessions to tournaments, camps, simuls, and much more!
Support Indian chess
No entry fee is needed for participating in the chess camp! However, if you would like to support our initiatives, then please do consider donating to our HelpChess Foundation. All the money contributed goes towards the growth of Indian chess players!
Important Note
The camp will be followed by The Big Chess Inter-School Tournament. It will take place from 16th to 18th May 2025 at the same venue. There will be 6 age categories: Under-6, Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, and the Open category (up to 10th standard). The top 15 finishers will get amazing prizes, while the top two finishers from each category will get an opportunity to play in a simul against GM Harshit Raja. You can check out this article for more details.