Journey of Ambit Chess Club as it completes one year
Last year, on 18th January 2025, Ambit Chess Club was launched. As it completes one year, this article captures the journey of a space that grew from a cafeteria corner into a vibrant chess club. It reflects how community and competition can coexist beautifully under one roof. Mitali Naik, the Club Manager at Ambit Chess Club, takes you through the club’s first year, sharing moments, milestones, and the people who shaped its journey. The club carries a welcoming energy that makes everyone feel at home.
Ambit Chess Club completes one year!
Three words that come to my mind when someone says Ambit Chess club: Colourful, lively, and home for Chess lovers! Why? Let me take you through its journey...
The place and the vibes!
I often wonder how to describe this club, which lies in the most unexpected places: the cafeteria inside an office in Lower Parel, Mumbai. Ambit House lies in a very quiet corner of the city, surrounded by kiosks and tall buildings, almost hiding its secret within.
There is a small cafeteria here, a cozy little nook with a dedicated corner for chess. It is full of life, laughter, and passionate chess lovers - playing games, cheering over chai, munching on sandwiches and sipping Coke. Add to that the vibrant tinted glass and the strong AC, and you have the perfect setting! This is a corner in the heart of Mumbai that does not ask much from you.
Pillars of the club
The Ambit Chess Club stands on four strong pillars: Players, Ambit, CircleChess and ChessBase India. Players are the true heart of the club. The club brings together players of all ages, professions and academic backgrounds. All of them have an undying love for chess. Whether beginner or seasoned players, everyone connects over the 64 squares.
Over the year, the club has grown into a space that balances a strong sense of community with high-level competition, while maintaining rigorous tournament standards. The intensity of play at Ambit often mirrors professional settings, to the extent that the club has even witnessed Armageddon rounds, where players face off in a final, deciding game after finishing completely level on points and tie-breaks.
Journey of the club
Inaugaration
The Ambit Chess Club was launched on 18 January 2025. The ribbon was cut by the U-8 Asian Champion, Narayani Marathe and her coach, FM Sajjan Das Joshi.
The excitement was infectious and players showed great enthusiasm throughout the event. A rapid tournament was also organised on the same day, with 37 participants taking part. The prize distribution was done by World Chess Boxing silver medalist Sneha Waykar. This marked the beginning of what would soon be a thriving Chess community!
First Freestyle tournament
On 25 January 2025, the club hosted its first-ever Freestyle event. Freestyle events challenge players to think out of their comfort zones and bring out their creativity and original thinking. The event was intense and exciting and the podium finishers were: Veer Shah, Aniruddha Potawad and Jay Adani. The prizes were given to top 10 players. It was certainly a refreshing and innovative addition to the club's calendar.
Casablanca Women’s Day special tournament
On 8th March, Ambit Chess Club celebrated Women’s Day with a special Casablanca-style tournament featuring legendary games of top women players like GM Harika Dronavalli, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, GM Koneru Humpy, GM Judit Polgar and GM Ju Wenjun. To encourage participation, entry for women was kept completely free. The event saw enthusiastic participation from Narayani Marathe, WCM Kriti Patel, Yuti Patel, Priti Patel, Sachi Inamdar and Mitali Naik.
A special prize for Best Woman Player was introduced, and Yuti Patel proudly won the title. Here is a link for the selected positions: Casablanca Women's Day special tournament positions.
GM Swayams Mishra at Ambit Chess Club
On 29th March, the club hosted a Rapid tournament where GM Swayams Mishra was present and participated as a player. His daughter, Elina Mishra (just 3 years and a month old at the time), filled the room with joy, while his wife, Chandrima Ghosh, supported the event warmly. The atmosphere was cheerful and inspiring!
One particularly touching moment was meeting Florina Parulekar, a 71-year-old player (the most senior player at the club) whose youthful spirit reminded us how chess transcends age. Chess helps her navigate post-retirement life & personal loss. Chess is truly more than a game!
Inclusivity & Empowerment
From May 2025 onwards, participation at the club was made completely free for all players. Later on, from November, we introduced a special prize for the Best women into the prize structure with the underlying ideology of empowering women in chess to participate more actively in open events. The Ambit Chess Club believes in creating a space where everyone feels valued, welcomed and empowered.
At the Rapid tournament conducted on 6th December, the club witnessed a special milestone, with its first-ever woman winning an open prize. It is no small feat to be a podium finisher at Ambit, and Avril David became the first woman to take home an open prize!
With all these memories, I realized that it has already been a wonderful year filled with charm.
Anniversary celebrations
The Anniversary celebrations took place on the evening of 17th January 2026. It was enchanted by quiz competition, balloon challenge, interactive activities and exciting prizes. The enthusiasm with which the players celebrated was really thrilling!
Quiz
The quiz featured a wide range of chess-related questions, some easy and some challenging, but the passionate players left no single question unanswered. Thirty players came together to form six energetic teams, each proudly choosing their own name: Team 1, Team Sholay, Team Chess ke pakode, Team Ambit late latifs, Team YoBo and Team Jeet ke jalbaz.
Balloon game
There was another celebratory challenge as part of the festivities. Players were invited to blow up their black and white balloons and try to protect them while attempting to burst others. The room was filled with excitement, playful competitiveness, and joy. It was a refreshing break from serious chess. This activity perfectly reflected the spirit of the Ambit Chess Club: competitive on the board, yet cheerful and united off the board.
Cake cutting
Interactive activity
We had an interactive activity where each player wrote down a milestone related to chess or life that they achieved in 2025 . A reel of the activity is out on our Instagram page @ambitchessclub. The best part was the loud cheer everyone gave for each teammate's milestone. It was enchanting to see the room filled with such uplifting energy.
Featured on Tata Steel Livestream
One of the biggest highlights of the anniversary celebrations was the special live stream conducted by Sagar Shah during the Tata Steel Masters. What better day to be featured on ChessBase India’s Tata Steel live stream than the anniversary celebrations? The Ambit Chess Club was proudly featured and all the players present had the opportunity to interact and share their experiences on a global stage. Their enthusiasm and gratitude were palpable. This moment reflected how far the club has come and its integration into the local chess community.
What do the players have to say?
The heart of Ambit Chess Club lies in its players and their individual journeys with the game. While every story matters, this section highlights a select few that collectively capture the ethos and evolving culture of the club.
Nilesh Girkar & Ameen Mohommad
This Chess duo is a hit at Ambit Chess Club. Why, you ask? They share a movie-like, heart-warming bond. Well, they were in the same chess team during their college days, after which life took them on separate paths. But chess had other plans! 18 years later, their paths crossed again at a tournament. Since then, they have been playing tournaments together. And if that isn't heart-warming enough, then let me tell you, they share the same birthday!
Amardeep Bartakke & Aditya Bartakke
This father-son duo is a familiar sight at Ambit Chess Club. They often finish on the podium. Interestingly, they even played a family tournament at the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival in Dubai in 2017. The festival was a huge event, attracting over 350 participants, more than 150 players from India. By the end of the tournament, the Bartakke duo proudly took the trophy home. Mr Bartakke proudly says that playing at Ambit feels like playing a tournament in Europe. It has that kind of vibe.
Shyam Kale & Sanchit Kale
This is undeniably the most adorable duo. Father Shyam Kale and his 7-year-old son Sanchit Kale are regulars at Ambit Chess Club. They bring energy, curiosity, and the joy of learning through chess. Their father-son bond shines through every game they play.
Madanlal Juneja
At 70 years of age, Madanlal Juneja brings with him over five decades of chess experience. Around 30 years ago, he defeated an International Master while representing Union Bank in a team event in Bikaner, a victory that was covered by both sports and local newspapers. During his college years, he also had the opportunity to learn under the late Mr. Syed Nasir Ali, National Champion of 1967. His continued presence at the Ambit chess club is a quiet reminder that chess transcends age, remaining a lifelong companion through learning, competition, and connection.
We even have a player named Bhavesh Vyas, who came to play at Ambit all the way from Bikaner and Shrirang Bondale, who often comes only to play at Ambit, all the way from Sangli.
Bundles of joy at Ambit
I am often asked by parents whether this club is good for kids or beginners. The answer is yes. It is a great exposure for children and beginners alike, as they get the opportunity to play against all kinds of players: seasoned competitors, amateurs, and fellow learners. Here are a few little bundles of joy.
Avyan Darji and Sanchit Kale: Both are accompanied by their fathers and are very consistent. Sanchit is the youngest player at Ambit, 7 years and 2 months currently.
Narayani Marathe, the U-8 Asian Champion, is the most prominent chess girl at Ambit.
A few more to mention: Gaurang Bhandari, Rayan Merchant, Arnav Dabhade, Arnav Koli, Advik Koli.
These are just a few mentions. There are many more such bundles of joy at Ambit.
Ambit Chess Club Wrap 2025
Chess is often measured in ratings, ranks, and results. But a club is measured in consistency: who keeps coming back, who keeps trying, and who grows alongside others. As the Ambit Chess Club completes one year, these numbers are not meant to rank people, but to capture patterns, persistence, and participation that shaped the club’s journey.
The total number of tournaments wrapped successfully in 2025 is 24 (13 Rapid and 11 Blitz). Additionally, there was a chess & chill session day where players met over chai and practice games . In all, Ambit chess Club was active triumphantly for 25 days in 2025.
Total rapid - 13 tournaments
Total blitz - 11 tournaments
Chess & chill - 1 session
Names in the table below are in alphabetical order, with no hierarchy implied.
Players | Medal |
|---|---|
Arnav Koli | Four-time Gold medalist |
Arnav Kherdeker | Three-time Gold medalist |
Anirudhha Potawad Jeet Shah Om Gada Shreyas Ghadi Veer Shah | Two-time Gold medalist |
Arnav Kherdeker | Five-time Silver medalist |
Shreyansh Somaiya | Four-time Silver medalist |
Shrayan Majumder | Three-time Silver medalist |
Arnav Kherdeker Shreyansh Somaiya | Three-time Bronze medalist |
Aditya Bartakke Anirudhha Potawad Daksh Jagesia Jay Adani Nameet Chavan Om Gada Pushkar Dere | Two-time Bronze medalist |
Ameen Mohommad Arnav Koli Aum Jain GM Swayams Mishra Mayuresh Kumar Soumil Gogte | One-time Bronze medalist |
Siya Kulkarni | Two-time best women |
Avril David Yashashree Surve Yuti Patel | Best women (Once) |
Consistency & Impact
What follows is a look at some of the most consistent and impactful performers at Ambit Chess Club. These are players who have not only finished on the podium repeatedly, but have also helped shape the competitive spirit of the club through their presence, performances, and commitment.
Aditya Bartakke
A 2000+ FIDE Classical-rated player, Aditya is among the top performers at Ambit Chess Club. He has defeated several titled players and consistently brings intensity to every event he participates in. Beyond results, his energy and competitive approach add depth and momentum to the chess circle at Ambit.
Anirudhha Potawad
With a FIDE rating of 2297, Anirudhha Potawad has regularly finished among the top three at Ambit Chess Club tournaments. He is known for his composure and disciplined play. His participation significantly strengthens the overall competitive standard of the club!
Arnav Kherdekar
Arnav Kherdekar has played in over 50 percent of the tournaments we hosted at the club so far. His journey reflects persistence, adaptability, and steady growth. Alongside strong results, his regular participation makes him one of the most dependable figures within the Ambit Chess Club community.
Arnav Koli
16-year-old Arnav Koli has secured the highest number of gold medals in the Ambit 2025 calendar. A quadruple gold winner, he has displayed strong performances and impressive competitive maturity, making him a key contributor to the club’s competitive fabric. He is often accompanied by his parents, Jyoti Koli and Mahesh Koli, along with his younger brother Aadvik Koli, who also plays chess. Arnav’s performances, combined with his family’s regular presence, make Ambit feel less like a tournament venue and more like a shared journey.
Daksh Jagesia
Daksh Jagesia is one of the youngest talents and top performers at Ambit. At just 17 years old, he is rated over 2000 and is deeply passionate about chess. A regular at the club, Daksh said, “I felt that chess is a part of my life and I have to excel because it became very important to me. This sport has given me a lot that I can never forget. It is more than a game to me. Chess is love.”
Jeet Shah
Jeet Shah is one of the top performers at Ambit, having crossed the 2280 rating mark in 2025. For him, chess is more than a game; it is a way of seeing the world. The sport has shaped his patience under pressure, creative thinking, and most importantly, his ability to stay calm amid uncertainty. His sheer will to win influences everyone around him at the club.
Om Gada
Om Gada has secured multiple prizes over time. His regular participation and disciplined approach reflect not just strong results, but a genuine love for the game. As he often says, “Chess is pyaar.” He brings both competitive strength and a sense of fun to the Ambit community.
Sharayan Majumder
Whenever Shrayan Majumder plays at Ambit, he returns home with either gold or silver, nothing less. Since 2022, his rating has surged from the 1600s to 2150, reflecting years of hard work and discipline. Yet what stands out most is the quiet determination he brings to every game. In his own words: “My lifestyle is now like a chess nomad. I love travelling and playing chess more than being at home. Chess has taught me to be independent, responsible, resilient, tenacious, and most importantly, to follow my heart, never give up, and enjoy the journey.”
Shreyansh Somaiya
At just 18 years old, Shreyansh has crossed 1900 in FIDE Classical and is among the top three most consistent performers at Ambit. He plays with calmness and steadiness. For Shreyansh, chess has become a journey of growth and self-discovery. “Chess continues to inspire me, and I look forward to seeing where the game will take me next,” he said.
Veer Shah
Veer Shah is a young and consistent talent at Ambit. At 19 years old, he has regularly featured among the top three podium finishers. His goal is simple and honest: to get better with each tournament and give it his all.
Siya Kulkarni
Siya Kulkarni has secured the Best Woman prize at Ambit the most number of times. She performs steadily, especially in higher time controls, and brings both skill and contagious positivity to the Ambit cohort.
And yet, beyond ratings, podiums, and statistics, what truly defines Ambit Chess Club is the people behind the boards. Each story above reflects not just individual achievement, but the collective spirit that has shaped this space over the past year. A club built on consistency, care, and a shared love for the game.
The players at Ambit are not only competitive on the board but also deeply involved in the life of the club. Their enthusiasm, initiative in content creation, willingness to help, and consistent kindness make every tournament smoother and every room warmer. I am truly grateful to each of them for contributing to the spirit of Ambit.
At the heart of this journey is not just the players or the events, but the vision of those who helped build the Ambit Chess Club from the ground up. Karan Wadhwa, Director at Ambit and an avid chess player, reflects on what the first year has meant:
“At Ambit, chess is a natural reflection of acumen at work. It rewards strategic thinking, patience, and clarity under pressure. The Ambit Chess Club was created out of a genuine love for the game and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the growth of chess in India. Over the past year, it’s been inspiring to see a strong community take shape around the club. Beyond the club, our commitment to chess extends to supporting emerging talent and the broader ecosystem. From partnering with ChessBase India to backing promising players through our CSR initiatives, we see this as a long-term journey of nurturing excellence on and off the board.”
A special thanks to IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal for their constant support, guidance, and vision, Dr. Vidhi Karelia for laying the foundation, Kartik Krishnan for functional support, and Aanchal Dhakar for executing creative ideas with infectious energy. All of them consistently help smooth processes. A special thanks to FA Vivek Sohani for his insights and support, and to Nehal Deshmukh, Neelkanth Kagathara, and Shrirang Bondale for always stepping in with tournament set-ups and on-ground assistance.
Gratitude to the Ambit security team, cafeteria team, and support staff, including Shivani and Rinku, whose cooperation keeps the space welcoming and efficient. Thank you to the Circle Chess team, Gaurav, Banshu, Subhojeet, Tina, Tarun, and Swati, for their continued assistance with registrations and logistics. And finally, heartfelt thanks to the ChessBase India team, and above all, to the players, the true heart of Ambit, whose presence, passion, and persistence bring the club to life!
Hopefully, we see many more such wonder-houses powering chess in India and across the globe. Here’s to many more to come. By now, you probably understand why, when someone says Ambit Chess Club, the three words that immediately come to my mind are colorful, lively, and a home for chess lovers. So, when you think of Ambit Chess Club, what are the three words that come to your mind?
About the author
Mitali Naik is the Club Manager at Ambit Chess Club and plays a key role in both its operations and community building. She manages tournaments end-to-end, from creating events on the Circle Chess platform and coordinating registrations and waitlists to handling pairings, results, and ensuring smooth on-ground execution. Alongside operations, she leads Ambit’s digital presence by shooting and creating Instagram content, and has been closely involved in organising major club events, including the Ambit Chess Club anniversary celebrations. She also serves as the point of communication between players, ChessBase India, and Ambit, ensuring clarity, coordination, and a welcoming environment for all participants. With a keen interest in players’ journeys beyond ratings and results, Mitali enjoys capturing the human side of chess: the stories, bonds, and moments that unfold across the board and give the club its unique character.
Important link
Ambit Chess Club Instagram Page
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