Former Corporate Executive Transforms Chess Scene in North India After Leaving High-Paying Job

A Mother's Journey in Chess

Nidhi Bhasin Rohilla, a former corporate salesperson earning around Rs 50 lakh per annum, left her high-paying job to support her elder daughter Shivika's competitive chess career. Observing the isolation and lack of structured tournament ecosystems in Delhi, Nidhi transitioned from a waiting parent in tournament corridors to building an expanding chess network across North India.

Building an Ecosystem

What began as arranging coaching sessions and practice partners eventually grew into the SR Chess Academy and initiatives like 'Chess Coffee Connect'. Today, her organization operates events across eight states, conducting over 40 events a month with paid staff and volunteers. The initiatives address specific community needs:

• Chess Coffee Connect: Café-based meetups helping players engage in practice games and build a local community.
• Accessibility and Support: Offering free entry for girls lacking parental support and fee discounts for senior citizens.
• Mind to Moves: A sports-psychology arm conducting sessions for parents on managing rating anxiety.

Current Status and Challenges

Despite running dozens of monthly events and expanding internationally with rated events in England—where Shivika is currently pursuing aerospace engineering and competing as a Woman International Master—Nidhi notes that funding remains a major hurdle. The operations are largely self-funded without external corporate sponsors, relying on personal resources and venue management.

*Readers can verify original announcements and sports schedules by consulting regional chess federation portals or official academy updates.*