♟️ India's chess boom: is coaching the only way up?
India is approaching its 100th Grandmaster, marking a massive milestone for the country. This surge is happening against a backdrop of global title inflation, which began seriously around 1998. From having fewer than 300 GMs between 1914 and 1997, the world now boasts over 2,500 GMs today. Thipsay points out that the sport has shifted from grassroots competition to a highly commercialized ecosystem. Consequently, many players are now reliant on expensive private coaching, which he claims creates a need where none existed. ♟️