American Grandmaster, Hans Niemann, who has been the talk of the chess town in recent years for his infamous controversy with Magnus Carlsen, was recently seen praising India’s support for its chess players. India, as we know it, has been experiencing a golden period. First, Gukesh D became the world champion in 2024, and then we saw the rise of many chess legends like Arjun Erigiasi, then we saw the rise of Divya Deshmukh, who became the most recent Grandmaster in India and won the women’s world cup.
And the list doesn’t stop, from Nihal Sarin in the Esports World Cup to Koneru Humpy in the FIDE Chess rankings, the list just goes on. But how did the boom in Indian chess happen? Well, the answer is simple. From the sheer amount of support Indian chess players get from their government and fans. This is what Hans Niemann, the popular American Grandmaster, brought to light through his X channel.
What Did Hans Niemann Say?
Hans Neimann recognized and praised India’s support for its chess players. In a statement that he shared on his X account, he wrote, “The Indian government and chess federation treats their players like superstars: supporting their development from an early age and rewarding them for their victories. While the American chess federation sabotages their own. The consequences will be very clear in 5-10 years.”
Is Hans Neimann’s Praise True?
Hans Niemann’s comparison isn’t just a coincidence. The comment came shortly after India’s recent chess sensation Divya Deshmukh received a whopping Rs. 3 crore cash prize from Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. This cash prize was given for winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 and becoming the first Indian woman to do so. He defeated her fellow Indian, Koneru Humpy in a thrilling final to bag the title, which also made her India’s 88th Grandmaster.
Not just Divya Deshmukh, but India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gave a similar prize to Gukesh D as well when he became the world champion. He received a cash prize of Rs. 5 crore from the local state government and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.
Hans Niemann’s praise isn’t the only one. American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura also pointed out how well-developed the Indian chess ecosystem has become as compared to others.
Also read: Who Is Divya Deshmukh? The Indian Teenage Chess Prodigy
