Panaji: Goa’s rising chess stars IM Ethan Vaz and Prayank Gaonkar have been named among the inaugural beneficiaries of the All India Chess Federation’s (AICF) newly launched Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS).
Under the leadership of AICF President Nitin Narang, the federation has disbursed `42.3 lakh for the April–June 2025 quarter alone, with a total projected outlay of `6.15 crore over the next two years. A total of 42 players—across both boys’ and girls’ categories from U7 to U19—were shortlisted based on their stellar performances at the 2024 National Championships. IM Ethan Vaz (U-15) will receive `1,20,000 under the scheme for the quarter, while Prayank Gaonkar (U-7) will receive `60,000.
“This is a vision that our president [Narang] had shared when he took charge of AICF, and he’s delivering exactly what he promised,” said Mahesh Candolkar, president of the Goa Chess Association.
“That’s why we support him unconditionally. He is for the players and for the game.”
Speaking about the local beneficiaries, Candolkar was full of praise. “Ethan is a very promising player who has worked incredibly hard. Financial support has always been a challenge. While AICF has stepped in, we at GCA are also committed to contributing, pending the release of government funds.”
Commenting on Prayank, he said: “He’s young, energetic and a fast learner. Though he only started playing two years ago, his growth has been exceptional.”
