The 64 Squares initiative, launched jointly by the Pravaha Foundation and chess tech company MGD1, has revealed its 2025 cohort, featuring five of India’s most talented women chess players. At the forefront is International Master Vantika Agrawal, a previous fellow from 2023, who continues to scale new heights in the chess world. In 2024, she clinched both team and individual gold medals at the Chess Olympiad and now sets her sights on earning the prestigious Grandmaster title.
This year’s fellowship, valued at approximately $120,000, offers full support for coaching, tournament travel, and global exposure. Alongside Vantika, the selected players include Woman FIDE Masters Shubhi Gupta and Charvi Anilkumar, as well as Woman International Masters Sarayu Velpula and Sahithi Varshini. Sarayu, 19, boasts a FIDE rating of 2302 and recently secured second place at the 2024 National Junior Girls Championship. Sahithi, 17, rated at 2301, has an impressive record of multiple Asian Youth Championship titles and represented India at the 44th Chess Olympiad.
According to Vinoda Kailas, Director of the Pravaha Foundation, the initiative is aimed at correcting the gender imbalance in professional chess. “Our vision is to support more Indian women on their path to becoming Grandmasters,” she said. MGD1 co-founder Sreekar Channapragada echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that financial limitations often prevent gifted players from realizing their potential. India currently has 85 Grandmasters, but only three are women—highlighting the need for targeted support.
The initiative also nurtures younger prodigies like 15-year-old Shubhi Gupta, winner of the National U-19 title, and 11-year-old Charvi Anilkumar, who gained over 100 rapid rating points and was nominated for a prestigious national child award. Their re-selection for 2025 underlines the program’s commitment to long-term development and sustainability in women’s chess.
