16-year-old runs free chess workshops for underprivileged children in Chennai

Sai Swaroop V, a 16-year-old Class XI student at San Academy in Pallikaranai, ran a free chess workshop for underprivileged children in Chennai in October. He is a resident of Medavakkam.

Sai has been conducting free chess workshops for the last five years, sometimes at orphanages where he arranges to be invited and frequently through online sessions. "I am good at managing time, and training others is a small way to reinforce what I have learnt," says the teenager.

He has been learning chess since a young age and has competed in various competitions to bag the title of Arena International Master. Sai is currently taking instruction from Manikandan D and describes himself as someone who lives to be a mentor.

Among the places where he has held sessions are Aravindh Foundations for Special Needs Children, Ramalinga Adigalar Gurukulam and Veda Patasala. He acknowledges the classroom challenges: being a teacher to children is not easy, as some rapport needs to be built.

"I teach them new tricks and ask them to practice," he says, adding that sometimes lessons involve teaching the basics of the 64 squares, while at other venues he competes with children who already have some idea of the game. Two rural students he is still associated with are Sanjay and Tarun, both younger to him who reach out to him before a tournament.

"They both are promising chess players and have acknowledged the role that I have played," he says. Sai also gives short lectures on the Bhagavad Gita and likes to sing Carnatic songs.

He has been recognised by Kalam’s World Records and has also received the Yuva Legacy Award at the Tamil Nadu Summit 2025. He will be conducting an online workshop in November.