Goa Chess Association (GCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s vision of positioning Goa as a premier sporting hub in India.
Speaking at a press conference in Panaji, GCA President Mahesh Candolkar outlined the Association’s renewed roadmap following the successful hosting of the FIDE World Cup 2025 by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and the Government of Goa. He announced that GCA will intensify its activities, including expansion of the Chess in Schools programme, strengthening of coaching systems, and hosting more rated All India tournaments to build a strong and sustainable chess ecosystem.
Highlighting national initiatives, GCA applauded AICF for launching stipend schemes in partnership with corporates to support India’s top emerging players. Goa’s own Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca is a major beneficiary, with substantial support covering training, travel, and competition expenses.
Other Goan talents selected under the AICF stipend programme include Ethan Vaz and Prayank Gaonkar, while the newest achiever, Evan Telles, who won Gold in the Under-7 category, will begin receiving his stipend from the forthcoming year. “A small state like Goa having two Grandmasters, and with Nitish Belurkar just one norm away, speaks volumes about our progress. There are bigger states without a single GM,” said Candolkar.
Reflecting on the prestige of the FIDE World Cup, Candolkar expressed pride that Goa had two arbiters – Arvind Mhamal and Ashesh Keni – out of only three slots allotted to India, with the rest coming from across the globe. He also noted that GM Leon Mendonca received a wildcard entry thanks to Goa being the host venue.
“Chess in Goa is growing because of the strong support from AICF, the Government of Goa, and corporates like Dempo and Geno, who have consistently backed our young players,” he added.
GCA Secretary Ashesh Keni highlighted Goa’s rapid growth in officiating, noting that the state now has over 20 certified arbiters, and announced a ₹45-lakh investment over the next five years for coaching, training, and player development.
Expanding on grassroots initiatives, Keni shared that under the “Chess in Schools” programme, two schools per taluka have already started weekly training sessions with GCA-appointed coaches. With the Chief Minister appreciating and encouraging this model, GCA plans to scale the programme to cover a larger number of schools. The Association also confirmed that more All India rated tournaments will be hosted in the coming year.
“With 206 players from over 80 countries, organising an event of this scale was a massive challenge,” the GCA noted. “ Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and Sports Secretary Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS provided constant guidance and support, while Director of Sports Dr Ajay Gaude and his entire department, along with the AICF under the leadership of President Nitin Narang, and the GCA teams, worked tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the event ran smoothly.”
GCA thanked AICF and the Government of Goa for bringing the FIDE World Cup to the state and reaffirmed its commitment to carrying this legacy forward with renewed enthusiasm.
