The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where national teams are competing through September 27. Chessveda chairman Adv. Nandan Jha and CCA chairman Bharat Singh Chauhan were present at the signing.
Speaking on the occasion, Commonwealth Chess Association Chairman Bharat Singh Chauhan said, “We are delighted to formalise this partnership with Chessveda and welcome them as an official partner for online chess. Digital platforms are opening new avenues for participation in chess, and this collaboration will enable us to provide more opportunities for players and chess communities across Commonwealth nations to participate and compete.”
He added, “The Commonwealth Chess Association is committed to promoting chess among all its member federations and to creating wider opportunities for players of different ages and levels. Our association with Chessveda will help us explore new formats and initiatives while complementing our existing over the board chess activities.”
Chessveda Chairman Adv. Nandan Jha said, “We envision organising online Chess Olympiads and other major championships at a global level. Our aim is to bring the global potential of chess and online chess to a wider audience while providing grassroots talent with opportunities to compete on global platforms and stages. Through this initiative, we hope to help players showcase their talent internationally and contribute to taking chess to greater heights.”
Calling the agreement “an eventful beginning”, Jha said the partnership could provide a broader framework for developing chess across the Commonwealth.
“The partnership between Chessveda and the Commonwealth Chess Association will play a big role in the development of chess,” Jha said.
He said the decision to formalise the partnership during one of the world’s largest international chess gatherings reflected the scale of the ambition behind the initiative.
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“Chess is growing faster than ever, and India has a responsibility to contribute beyond its own borders. This partnership gives us a structured way to work with federations, organisers and young players across the Commonwealth,” Jha said.
According to Jha, the partnership would not be limited to elite players or established chess centres. A major objective would be to use digital access to bring more players into organised chess.
“We want players of every age and every level to find a pathway — whether that means learning, competing, finding a coach or simply staying connected with the game,” he said.
“Digital platforms can help bridge geographical and infrastructure gaps. There are countries and communities where chess has enormous potential but where players may not have easy access to tournaments, coaches or a wider chess community.”
Jha said Chessveda saw tournaments as an important mechanism for turning the partnership into tangible opportunities for players and organisers.
“Tournaments and championships are where the chess ecosystem comes alive. If we can help the CCA stage more events and bring more participants onto a common platform, we can create real opportunities for players, coaches and organisers,” he said.
He said the partnership would also seek to connect different parts of the Commonwealth chess ecosystem rather than operate only as an online initiative.
“Our objective is not simply to provide another online playing platform. We want to connect online activity with real tournaments, coaching, training and community development. The digital and physical sides of chess should strengthen each other,” Jha said.
Jha also highlighted the potential of the Commonwealth’s diverse membership to create opportunities for young players.
“The Commonwealth brings together countries with very different levels of chess development. That diversity is an opportunity. Stronger chess nations can share experience, while emerging chess communities can gain access to competition, training and organisational support,” he said.
Under the agreement, Chessveda and the CCA will collaborate on tournaments, championships, Olympiad-style events and other chess programmes across Commonwealth nations.
Jha said the partnership could also encourage greater participation among young players and help create a more sustained competitive pathway.
“For a young player, the most important thing is to see a pathway ahead — from learning the game to playing local tournaments, then national and international events. We want to help create more of those pathways across the Commonwealth,” he said.
The two organisations are expected to work with national federations, organisers, coaches and other stakeholders to develop programmes suited to different Commonwealth countries.
Officials said the broader objective is to widen participation and strengthen the chess ecosystem across the 56-member Commonwealth.
Chessveda describes itself as an integrated chess platform offering online play, training, tournaments, coaching, community features, news and other chess content.
The Commonwealth Chess Association oversees chess activities among Commonwealth countries and organises the Commonwealth Chess Championship.
The partnership was formalised in Samarkand as the chess world gathers for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, providing the two organisations with an opportunity to begin discussions on expanding competitive and developmental chess activity across the Commonwealth.
