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Sahib Singh receives Rs. 54,000 through the Sri V.S. Phani Sarma Scholarship

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 16/07/2025

The HelpChess Foundation has been working to support talented chess players across India through various scholarships. One such initiative is the Sri V.S. Phani Sarma Scholarship worth Rs. 54,000, which is launched in memory of a passionate chess lover, Phani Sarma. This scholarship has been awarded to 16-year-old Sahib Singh, who recently earned the International Master title. This article shares the story behind the scholarship and how it will help Sahib move closer to his dream of becoming a Grandmaster. Read on to know more.

Passion never retires!

Not every passion becomes a profession. Sometimes, it becomes a part of who you are. These passions make us feel alive. They make our ordinary days extraordinary. They are like comfort on difficult days. The reason I am talking about passion is that I want to tell you about Sri V. S. Phani Sarma. He was a man who lived with such passion. He had a profound love for chess, the game he cherished for his entire life.

In his memory, the HelpChess Foundation is launching the “Sri V.S. Phani Sarma Scholarship" worth Rs. 54000. This scholarship is initiated by his son, Madan, who wanted to transform his father’s lifelong passion into an opportunity to help aspiring chess players.

When he approached us with this idea, he shared how inspired he was by the various scholarships facilitated by HelpChess Foundation. He wanted to be a part of our journey toward the development of chess in India.

I read about Ashwin Subramanian’s long association with HelpChess Foundation and the numerous scholarships he had generously sponsored over the years. So, a big shout out to him as well - he was truly an inspiration to us in firming up our decision to launch this scholarship through HelpChess Foundation. - Madan ji shared.

About Sri Phani Sarma

We often describe someone by their profession first. But after hearing his story, I would describe him, above all, as a very passionate person. He was a lecturer by profession and was equally passionate about poetry and literature. His intellectual curiosity knew no bounds! He was also a dedicated practitioner of Kundalini Yoga. Whatever he took up, he pursued it with depth and joy!

Phani Sarma, the man who lived simply and served selflessly! | Photo: Madan Mohan

Phani Ji’s passion for chess remained vibrant throughout his life. He continued to play regularly until the age of 80. Starting from his younger years till the age of 45 years, he actively participated in local tournaments and often won them. While his children, as Madan humbly shared, did not pick up chess as much as he would have liked, his grandchildren embraced the game. They happily became his opponents in his later years. Even in his final months when he was battling with cancer, chessboard was not far from him.

Phani Ji’s financial situation in his childhood was quite challenging. After losing his father at a very young age, it was his grandmother who supported him and his younger brother. With the help of his relatives, teachers and some strangers, he was able to complete his graduation in Oriental Languages. He pursued his MA in Telugu as a self-taught student. He topped the Osmania University examinations and made a record at the time for a self-taught student! Even after retiring as a government college lecturer, he continued to teach Sanskrit as an honorary lecturer. He was truly driven by a genuine love for learning and teaching.

He knew the value of a helping hand, because he had once needed one too.

He never forgot the kindness that shaped his journey. His stories of generosity deeply influenced his children. Those values have become a part of their lives too. And it is in that same spirit of giving that his son, Madan, has come forward to institute this scholarship!

Sahib Singh: Recipient of the scholarship

Sahib Singh of New Delhi has recently earned his International Master title at just 16 years of age. | Photo: Tajinder Singh

Sahib achieved his final IM norm at the Dubai Open 2025. He had to overcome many challenges to get there. There were times he came close to the final norm but missed out. Financial struggles made the journey even tougher. But he never gave up. He was determined toward his goal and with huge support from his parents, he kept moving forward.

Sahib with his pillar of support- his father, Tajinder Singh. | Photo: Tajinder Singh

One of his standout achievements is when he won triple gold at the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship in 2022. He secured victory in Classical, Rapid and Blitz sections, something so rare and hard to achieve! Last year, he made a striking 142 Elo point jump.

A golden hat-trick! | Photo: Delhi Chess Association.

Sahib Singh's achievements:

  • Delhi State Chess Champion in 2019 and 2021

  • Bronze medal Asian Youth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka in 2019

  • Silver medals Western Asia Youth Chess Championship

  • Team gold and individual bronze at the Asian Youth Championship

  • Bronze medal at the National Schools Championship in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

  • Three gold medals at the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship in 2022

Sahib’s rating progress over the past three years. | Photo: Sahib's FIDE profile

Sahib has never received any sponsorship till date which makes pursuing chess for a player like him a challenge. That’s why this scholarship has come at a pivotal moment in his career. It will provide some financial relief and encouragement to him.

We are truly grateful for every bit of support that comes our way in Sahib’s chess journey. As everyone in the chess fraternity understands, while buying a chessboard is easy, pursuing chess as a serious professional sport is a different story altogether — both demanding and financially challenging. So far, we’ve managed through personal sacrifices — cutting down on expenses, dipping deep into savings, and doing whatever it takes to keep the dream alive. But now, with Sahib having earned the IM title, the road ahead is even tougher… and significantly more expensive.

-Tajinder Singh

Sahib’s family has done whatever it takes to keep his dream alive. Supporting a child’s dream often requires some sacrifices and shifts in priorities in many families. This might be tough but it helps facing even tougher challenges ahead. When asked about how they plan to utilise these funds, Sahib’s father, Tajinder said:

We're truly thankful to Mr. Madan for this thoughtful gesture. There are several important things we are considering for these funds — including coaching and investing in a new laptop that’s essential for training and analysis. However, with back-to-back international tournaments in Kazakhstan and the UAE coming up later this week, we plan to utilize the funds to support our travel and participation in these events.

- Tajinder Singh

These acts of support can ripple into something much bigger. It simply reminds someone that they are not alone. Their efforts are seen, and their dreams are worth believing in.

Support doesn’t have to be grand; it just has to be timely!

About HelpChess Foundation

HelpChess Foundation is a 12A-registered Charitable Trust with a CSR number that provides benefits to its contributors. It started with only one mission - to support talented Indian chess players who need that extra push. A few days ago, we published the annual report of the HelpChess Foundation for the year 2024-25. It was a milestone year - we raised Rs. 1,63,48,955 and supported 32 chess players across India. This was possible with the generosity of 1191 contributors who believed in our mission. These are the highest numbers we have seen since the inception of HelpChess Foundation. They reflect a growing support for chess talent in our country.

This was possible because of our generous contributors!

If you want to contribute, head over to the official website where you will find everything you need. You will also find the details below:

A. Bank Details

Account Name: Helpchess Foundation

Account Number: 50200059926281

IFSC Code: HDFC0000118

B. UPI Details

UPI ID:helpchessfoundation.99750682@hdfcbank

Merchant Name: HELPCHESS FOUNDATION

C. Helpchess Foundation Details

Name: Helpchess Foundation

PAN number:  AACTH4426K

12A Registration - AACTH4426KE20215 dated 23/09/2021   

80G No - AACTH4426KF20213 

(Donations are eligible for deduction under Sec. 80-G of Income Tax Act.)

Address: 301, Damji Shamji Trade Center, Kirol Road, Vidyavihar west Mumbai - 400086

Contact Number: 7304087464 

Important links

HelpChess Foundation Annual Report 2024-25

Sahib Singh becomes India’s latest International Master from New Delhi


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