BENGALURU — Twenty-five young chess talents from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, aged 13 to 19, realized a lifelong dream by squaring off against chess royalty at the YiPPee! Checkmate Challenge, hosted at the ITC Windsor.
The rising stars faced an elite lineup featuring World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen, alongside Indian icons Koneru Humpy, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pravin Mahadeo Thipsay. Selected through YiPPee!’s “Cook. Share. Checkmate!” contest—which ran from August 26 to September 2 across Bengaluru and Chennai—the finalists earned their spots by sharing creative noodle recipes alongside their favorite chess memories.
The event served as a major highlight for the #BeyondTheMove campaign, which celebrates the dedication and personal stories driving the next generation of players. Beyond technical skill, the participants tested their composure, focus, and nerve under the intense pressure of competitive play against global legends.
Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, coach of the Alpine APL Pipers, named Vivaan Sachdev the best player of the challenge after Sachdev secured the strongest board position against three Grandmasters.
Reflecting on the experience, Magnus Carlsen said, “It is always nice to see the joy that kids have in chess. The young players here were very good, and you could see the amount of energy and effort they brought to the games. It was great to see them get the opportunity to play and experience chess in this way.”
Watching the matches proved equally rewarding for the parents, families, and coaches in attendance, who witnessed their children share the board with world-class masters.
Atul Pujar, Head of Marketing for Snacks and Noodles at ITC Ltd.’s Foods Division, noted, “It was wonderful to see the excitement and confidence of the young participants as they played against some of the biggest names in world chess. As a brand, it is our constant endeavor to support and inspire young minds of India, and we are happy to have played a small part to bring these kids closer to their dreams.”
The initiative successfully bridged the gap between amateur youth players and professional icons, leaving the next generation of Indian chess players with unforgettable memories and renewed inspiration.
