From IIT dropout dream to chess success: He left home, became Rajasthan’s first Arena Grandmaster, built academy in 30 countries

Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat gave up an IIT path as a teenager and left home to pursue chess, a decision that eventually saw him become Rajasthan’s first Arena Grandmaster (AGM), as per a TOI report. Today, he represents Udaipur through chess, mentors students in India and abroad, and runs the Kingdom of Chess academy, which now operates across around 30 countries.

According to TOI, Rajawat, who now represents Udaipur through chess, mentors students in India and abroad and trains chess tutors, initially pursued cricket and later prepared for the IIT entrance examination. His interest in chess began around 2011-12 after he attended his first tournament at about 16.

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From cricket and IIT preparation to chess

Rajawat had played district-level cricket before becoming interested in chess. His curiosity deepened after he encountered a chess-like game through a Nintendo cartridge and watched his father play.

“My father started playing it too. I asked him how it was played, and he said, ‘This isn't a children's game, you won't understand it,’” Rajawat told TOI.

He taught himself the game using its instructions and soon defeated his father. After attending his first chess tournament, he became increasingly attracted to the difficulty of the sport.

His performance improved quickly, but his parents were concerned that chess was affecting his IIT preparation. He began attending tournaments without telling them.

When he secured a strong enough IIT entrance rank, his family expected him to pursue the opportunity. Instead, Rajawat decided to return to chess and did not complete the IIT counselling process.

Left home with no safety net

Rajawat’s parents, Gunwanti Rajawat and Vivek Singh Rajawat, opposed his decision. His father’s business operated intermittently, while his mother, previously a homemaker, had recently secured a government teaching job, providing the family greater financial stability.

“They were extremely upset,” Rajawat told TOI. “But I was a little obsessive about it. I always told them, ‘It's okay whatever problems you think there are, I'll handle it.’”

He eventually left home with a few belongings and travelled alone to Delhi.

His early years in the city were difficult. He struggled to enter his first FIDE-rated tournament because of an eligibility dispute with the All India Chess Federation. He later entered a Rs 3,500 tournament that provided shared accommodation, as he otherwise had nowhere to stay.

He represented Rajasthan at national events and sometimes slept at stadiums, railway stations and other places because he lacked money for accommodation. His phone was also stolen during this period.

“I had money for food, but not much beyond that,” he said.

One tournament changed his outlook

A major turning point came during a Delhi tournament after Rajawat returned from the Under-25 Nationals in Chennai. He had lost his phone on the journey and was already struggling financially.

After winning several games at the tournament, he suffered an unexpected defeat and briefly considered returning home. He decided instead to complete the remaining rounds.

In his final game, he arrived 28 minutes into a 30-minute default period and had roughly a minute left on his clock against a far more experienced player. He eventually won.

“After that I felt, now I can do anything,” Rajawat told TOI. “That was where my journey really began.”

He later earned the Arena Grandmaster title, became Rajasthan’s first player to receive it and defeated FIDE-rated Grandmasters. He also played against young players including Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin.

From teaching in Delhi to a global academy

While briefly enrolled in mathematics at Delhi University, Rajawat began teaching chess around Delhi towards the end of 2015. By 2017-18, his coaching work expanded into institutional teaching, including a stint at the British School.

In 2019, he returned to Rajasthan and established the Kingdom of Chess academy. He eventually trained up to 100 students himself, with students winning state and national titles as well as Commonwealth and Asian golds and a World Championship medal.

“I realised I could teach 100 children alone, but never thousands,” he said, leading him to focus on training chess coaches as well.

According to TOI, the academy now operates across around 30 countries.