Chess in India has turn out to be profitable, because of an awesome influx of keen sponsors. For occasion, a 19-year-old Arjun Erigaisi bagged a Rs 12.4 crore sponsorship deal from a Singapore agency.

E Jyothi, mom of Erigaisi, mentioned, “Since the age of eight, my son has been glued to chess. Now with this sponsorship, he can participate in several tournaments without any worry.”

India now has 77 grandmasters – the newest one being 16-year-old Aditya Mittal. Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (16), Nihal Sarin (18), Dommaraju Gukesh (15) and Erigaisi have been dubbed India’s “best hopes,” by five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.

Veteran chess gamers and commentators advised The Quint that the final two years have witnessed India’s chess profile enhance and turn out to be commercially viable, a lot in order that it has led to a monumental rise in its reputation.