Tech Mahindra Foundation launches inclusive Chess League, opening global stage for children with speech and hearing impairment

In a significant step towards making sport more accessible and aspirational, the Tech Mahindra Foundation has launched a nationwide Chess League for children with speech and hearing impairment.

Designed to create a grassroots-to-global pathway, the initiative offers young players not just competitive exposure, but also a rare opportunity to attend the Global Chess League (GCL) Finals in Mumbai later this month.

Part of the Foundation’s ARISE+ disability programme, the league has already attracted over 130 participants across India, highlighting both the appetite and the untapped potential for inclusive competitive sport. The winners and runners-up from each city will travel to Mumbai to watch the GCL Finals live and interact with some of the world’s leading chess players a powerful incentive that bridges participation at the grassroots with inspiration at the elite level.

The league has been structured to ensure accessibility while retaining the essence of competition. Players are divided into three age groups Under 12, 12–18, and 18+ and compete in a single-day individual format, with 15-minute games and no time increments. This simplified approach is aimed at encouraging newcomers to competitive chess, while maintaining fairness and intensity. As the programme scales nationally, Tech Mahindra Foundation plans to introduce time increments and team-based formats to further enrich the competitive experience.

Beyond travel opportunities, winners in each category are being recognised with medals and certificates, reinforcing the importance of achievement and inclusivity. More importantly, the initiative places children with speech and hearing impairment at the centre of a competitive sporting ecosystem that has traditionally remained inaccessible to many.

This chess league is also strategically aligned with Tech Mahindra’s broader investment in the sport. Earlier this year, the company announced that Season 3 of the Global Chess League, its flagship joint venture with the International Chess Federation (FIDE), will be held from December 13 to 24, 2025, at Mumbai’s iconic Royal Opera House. Enabling young grassroots players to experience the GCL Finals live reflects a deliberate attempt to inspire the next generation while reinforcing chess as a sport without barriers.

Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, emphasised the deeper philosophy behind the initiative. “Chess is one of the rare sports where inclusion is not an aspiration but an intrinsic strength,” he said. “Through this league, we aim to ensure that every child, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to experience competition, build confidence, and foster a sense of community. True impact lies in developing talent from the grassroots to the global arena.”

The league travelled across major Indian cities between November 24 and November 28, covering Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru. After the opening event in Delhi, matches were held in Hyderabad at both the Deaf Enabled Foundation ARISE+ Centre and the Government School for the Deaf, Malakpet. Mumbai hosted the league at Tech Mahindra’s Chandivali office, while Pune saw competition at the TechM Sharada Centre campus. The final leg concluded in Bengaluru at the Sunaad School for the Hearing Impaired.

Chetan Kapoor, CEO of Tech Mahindra Foundation, highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the organisation’s long-standing work with persons with disabilities. “Our education and employability programmes for PwDs have always focused on creating real opportunities through education, skilling and sport,” he said. “Seeing these children compete with passion and joy reaffirms why initiatives like this matter.”

What sets this league apart is the clarity of its long-term vision. Rather than being a one-off event, it is positioned as a foundation layer within Tech Mahindra’s broader chess ecosystem one that combines grassroots development, elite competition and technology-led innovation. By integrating this initiative with the Global Chess League, the Foundation is creating a visible and attainable pathway for young players who may otherwise be excluded from mainstream sporting platforms.

In a country where chess already carries strong cultural significance, the programme reinforces the idea that talent can emerge from anywhere, provided the right structures exist. By nurturing confidence, competition and community among children with speech and hearing impairment, Tech Mahindra Foundation is pushing the narrative beyond participation towards genuine opportunity.

As the countdown to the Global Chess League Season 3 continues, this inclusive chess league stands as a reminder that the future of sport lies not only in elite performance, but in ensuring that every aspiring player has a place on the board.