'The Risks Of Playing Chess In India...'! Russian GM Likens India's Ecosystem To Soviet Union During Heyday

Last Updated:March 22, 2026, 10:37 IST

Kiriakov spotted parallels between the development India has witnessed in the sport of chess in recent times to the great tradition inherited by Russia from the Soviet Union

Russian Grandmaster Petr Kiriakov likened the massive development and improvement India has witnessed in the sport of chess in recent times to the great tradition inherited by Russia from the Soviet Union, while also explaining the intricacies that go into making a nation a superpower in a sport.

During the Soviet era, chess became extremely popular largely because it did not require the construction of stadiums. All you needed was a chessboard and chess pieces, making it relatively cheap. You didn’t need to invest much to teach people how to play. That is probably why it was chosen as one of the main sports in the Soviet Union at the time, and it is likely one of the reasons it is also popular in India."

Russia inherited this love for the game from the Soviet Union and carried it forward. Russia is a country with a great deal of talent, and in any sport, if you focus on it, create role models, and achieve results, people will follow. Children will start playing, and it becomes a kind of circle of life.

“I was born in the Soviet era. I started playing chess when I was six. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, I was 16, but already a strong player. At that time, the Soviet Union was number one in chess. We had many strong grandmasters, and we played a lot among ourselves," Kiriakov said.

“But nowadays, the situation in Russia is not as strong as before. In the top 25 in the world, perhaps there is just one Russian player now. Earlier, in the top 10, maybe only one or two were from outside the Soviet Union!"

“I think this change happened because now kids have many more opportunities. They play video games and do many other things. There are also many other sports," he added.

“We still have many chess schools and many children playing, but there is not as much government support or sponsorship as before."

“In India, I saw that there are many sponsors, even support from political organisations. That helps players a lot."

In India, as in Russia, if you’re coming from challenging circumstances and situations, and you manage to perform well in chess or in other sports, somehow it helps you a lot in life and to jump a few steps ahead socially. This is very important when parents consider in what direction to guide their children.

“There are many strong players in India. They mostly play within the country and hone their skills. When foreign grandmasters come here, they can lose rating points because the competition is tough here. There are players who think that playing in India is risky for their rating."

“This indicates how strong Indian chess has become over time. It reminds me of Soviet times," Kiriakov said.

To bring children into the game, chess needs to be popularised, so that they can improve, become stronger, and eventually produce strong grandmasters who will deliver results.

“I think chess academies are crucial. Of course, today it is possible to learn chess at home via computers and online tools."

“But it is much better for kids to learn together, to communicate and play with each other. That helps them improve more and also builds friendships that can last for life. It is important to have more tournaments and also get government support," Kiriakov explained.

With computers and online platforms, any child who has access to the internet now has access to global knowledge. They can play online, analyse games, use databases, and study, which is very important factor in the proliferation of GMs across the world, but particularly more so in India.

“When I became a grandmaster at 22, it was a big achievement. But now, it is easier to become a grandmaster because all tools are easily available — books, computers, training."

“You can find coaches online and play games anytime on the internet. That said, just playing is not enough. I always say: play one game, then stop and think. Analyse what happened. Many players today just play fast games continuously, and that is not the best way to improve," he elucidated.

“Now, well into my 40s, it is not easy for me to compete at the same level as I used to. So I mostly teach and share my experience. But I still love to play. I cannot even imagine stopping chess."

Kiriakov, who is in Kerala for the ‘Chess for Everyone’, a FIDE-rated event, put together by the Premier Chess Academy in Thiruvananthapuram, opened up on his appreciation for the nation and lauded the leaps and bounds in terms of chess development the peninsular naiton has achieved in recent times.

“India is fascinating, feels different. I arrived a couple of days before the tournament. In Kerala, I noticed many churches. What I found especially interesting is how colourful they are. Different, but nice," Kiriakov said.

“A day ago, I played about 30 games simultaneously against local players. It was not easy. I managed to win 28, but the level was strong. It was a great experience."

“I believe India is one of the best chess countries. There are almost 100 grandmasters. When I was young, there were maybe only just a couple of them. But now it is completely different — there are many strong players, many tournaments, and a lot of young children playing chess," he added.

“I also see that organisers in India are doing a fantastic job by creating academies and giving players opportunities to play at home without needing to travel much or spend a lot of money."

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