Maitreyi Mondal receives B B Mote Scholarship worth Rs. 50,000
India has no shortage of chess talent, but opportunities don’t always reach everyone equally. The HelpChess Foundation has been working to bridge this gap, supporting players with timely financial aid when it matters most. Over the past year, the initiative has raised over Rs. 1.6 crore, impacting several promising careers. Taking this mission forward, Suraj and Ankita Khot have introduced the B B Mote Scholarship worth Rs. 50,000. It has been awarded to 13-year-old WCM Maitreyi Mondal from West Bengal. Read the article to know more about the scholarship.
When talent isn't enough...
A country can have talent in abundance, but opportunities are rarely equal. This is the harsh truth about sports. In one corner of the country, a child may be gifted with immense talent for chess, but they might still be dreaming of Grandmaster norms because they cannot afford coaching or travel. While some players benefit from world-class training and frequent international exposure, many others are forced to slow down, or even stop, at crucial stages of their journey due to financial constraints. The HelpChess Foundation exists to bridge this very gap. It was founded in 2018 to ensure that no deserving player is held back due to a lack of resources. With the support of a passionate community of contributors, the foundation has been able to step in at critical moments and make a tangible difference in players’ careers.
B B Mote Scholarship
Over the past year, this collective effort reached new heights, with over Rs. 1.6 crore raised and distributed to support talented players across the country. We are now announcing another scholarship, "B B Mote Scholarship" worth Rs. 50,000. The people behind this Scholarship are Suraj Khot and his wife, Ankita. The couple is originally from Kalyan, currently living in London. Suraj is a software engineer and Ankita has an MBA. Despite living abroad, their connection to India remains strong, and so does their desire to give back. The scholarship has been named in memory of Suraj Khot’s grandfather!
Suraj has been a passionate follower of chess and enjoys the game as a hobby. Over the years, watching Indian players rise, especially those coming from modest backgrounds, left a deep impression on them.
Seeing chess players in India thriving - who come from humble backgrounds, feels so incredible. That shows potential in our kids. The way HelpChess Foundation can support such talent motivates us to be a part of this movement.
- Suraj and Ankita shared.
Their association with the HelpChess Foundation stems from this very belief. They wanted to be a part of this movement. They were clear about supporting an emerging talent, and particularly a girl, as they strongly feel that in India, girls still need more uplifting opportunities. For Suraj and Ankita, giving back is not just an idea, but a value they have grown up with. “We believe in helping others climb as you climb. We have seen our parents go through tough times and still find ways to support others. And we are just following the same steps,” they shared.
They also encourage others to contribute. “Indian chess flourished with one beacon of light in Vishy sir, and under his guidance, we now have an entire generation shining. This is the perfect time to support chess in India and help make it a viable career option for the youth,” the big believers said.
Maitreyi Mondal: Recipient of the Scholarship
The recipient of the B B Mote Scholarship is 13-year-old WCM Maitreyi Mondal, a talented young player from West Bengal. She became a Women's Candidates Master last year. Here is a list of Maitreyi's notable achievements so far:
Tournament | Year | Medal |
|---|---|---|
16th KIIT International Chess Festival (Category-B Below 1900) | 2025 | Gold |
2025 | Bronze | |
2025 | Gold |
On receiving the support, Maitreyi's father shared their happiness and gratitude. “Pursuing chess professionally at an advanced level is quite challenging without assistance. This support will ease our financial burden and help her access better training opportunities and participate in more tournaments.”
Maitreyi is currently training under Grandmaster Aleksander Goloshchapov. His guidance has been instrumental in her progress. She will utilize this scholarship amount for advanced training and tournament participation.
Maitreyi’s family expressed their gratitude, saying, “Our heartfelt thanks to Suraj Khot and Ankita Khot for supporting young talents like her. This will greatly boost her confidence and motivate her to work even harder towards reaching a 2200 FIDE rating.”
We hope Maitreyi makes the most of this opportunity and continues her steady rise in the world of chess!
Want to support?
If you would like to support Indian chess players, please contribute via the HelpChess Foundation website. If you would like to institute a scholarship or sponsor an amount, please do write to us at chessbaseindia@gmail.com to discuss the details of the same. HelpChess is an 80G registered Charitable Trust. Here are some details so that you can be sure that you are putting in your money in the right place:
PAN number: AACTH4426K
12A Registration - AACTH4426KE20215 dated 23/09/2021
80G No - AACTH4426KF20213
CSR No. CSR00016763
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