Anjanibai Chess Academy

♟️ About Anjanibai Chess Academy

Anjanibai Chess Academy is a chess training academy and tournament organizer based in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The academy combines structured chess coaching with a strong social mission: its stated objective is to bring chess to less-privileged children and use the game to build confidence, concentration, logical thinking, and resilience. Students receive training and are encouraged to gain practical experience through regular competitive play. Tournament participation forms a central part of the academy’s development model. Anjanibai Chess Academy organizes FIDE-rated classical and rapid tournaments, local competitions, and regular practice tournaments in Navi Mumbai. Its tournament series include the Ramabai Ranade FIDE Classical Rating Tournament, Tarabai Shinde FIDE Rapid Rating Tournament, Anjanibai Deshbhratar Open Rapid Tournament, and other open events. The academy also organizes low-cost competitions and provides its own students with tournament opportunities that might otherwise be financially difficult to access. Nandakumar T. V. is the Founder and Head Coach and serves as the principal organizer and contact person for the academy’s tournaments. The academy also identifies Ajinkya Pingale, an International Arbiter, rated player, and coach, as its mentor. Anjanibai Chess Academy has maintained an especially active tournament schedule in 2026. Most recently, it organized the 1st MindPetal Rising Minds Mumbai Open FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament on August 30, 2026, while its next major classical event is the 3rd Ramabai Ranade FIDE Classical Rating Tournament, scheduled for December 25–30, 2026.

🎓 Chess Training and Social Mission

The academy’s work is built around the idea that chess can provide educational and personal-development opportunities for children regardless of their financial background. Its official mission specifically emphasizes reaching underprivileged children and helping them compete on equal terms with players who have greater access to training and tournaments. Accordingly, the program links lessons with practical competition. Once students understand the fundamental rules, checkmating techniques, and basic strategic concepts, the academy encourages them to participate regularly in tournaments. Anjanibai Chess Academy states that its own students can participate in academy-organized events without an entry fee, while fees collected from outside participants help cover tournament expenses. This approach supports the academy’s broader objective of making organized chess more accessible. The academy is named after Anjanibai Deshbhratar, a 20th-century social reformer associated with educational opportunities for girls from disadvantaged communities and inspired by the work of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

🏆 FIDE-Rated Tournament Activity

Anjanibai Chess Academy has expanded its rated tournament program substantially. Its official tournament history includes the Anjanibai Deshbhratar FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament, first held in 2023, followed by the recurring Tarabai Shinde Rapid Chess Tournament series. In 2026, the academy organized the 7th Tarabai Shinde FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament on March 22 and the 6th Anjanibai Deshbhratar Open Rapid Chess Tournament on April 5. The 2nd Ramabai Ranade FIDE Classical Rating Tournament followed from May 4–9, 2026 in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. The event offered an 11-round classical format, a published prize fund of ₹401,750, 67 cash prizes, and 50 trophies. It was officially registered as an Indian FIDE-rated event. Further tournament activity continued through the summer, including the 7th Anjanibai Deshbhratar Open Rapid Chess Tournament and 3rd Anandibai Joshi Open Classical Chess Tournament on August 23.

⚡ Regular Practice Tournaments

Alongside larger FIDE-rated events, the academy runs frequent practice tournaments in Nerul. These events are designed to give developing players repeated tournament experience rather than relying only on occasional major competitions. During 2026, Chess-Results recorded Anjanibai Chess Academy practice sessions in both classical and rapid formats, including events in May, June, July, and August. The rapid sessions commonly use a 15+5 time control and a Swiss-system format. Nandakumar T. V. regularly serves as Tournament Director and, for several practice events, also as Chief Arbiter. The academy uses these competitions as an intermediate step between coaching sessions and larger rated tournaments.

🌟 Major 2026 Events

On August 30, 2026, the academy organized the 1st MindPetal Rising Minds Mumbai Open FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament at Agri Koli Sanskriti Bhavan in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. The tournament featured nine Swiss-system rounds with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move. It was submitted for international FIDE rapid rating and carried FIDE Event ID 472280. The event was deliberately priced at a low ₹250 entry fee and offered a ₹50,000 prize fund. The academy’s next major event is the 3rd Ramabai Ranade FIDE Classical Rating Tournament, scheduled for December 25–30, 2026 at Shree Siddhi Marriage Hall in Kharghar. The tournament is planned as an 11-round FIDE-rated classical competition with a published prize fund of approximately ₹400,700 and 67 cash prizes.

🏛️ Coaching and Organization

The academy identifies Nandakumar T. V. as its Founder and Head Coach. Its official profile states that he has coached hundreds of students and continues to lead both training and tournament organization. Ajinkya Pingale serves as a mentor and brings additional tournament expertise as an International Arbiter, coach, and rated player. The academy also lists Susan Jacob, Varsha Kale, Shashikant Waghmare, and Mahesh Parsekar among its coordinators. This structure allows Anjanibai Chess Academy to combine regular instruction with hands-on tournament organization and a clear pathway from introductory chess to rated competition.