TLDR: T9L QUBE’s incubated startup RookTook has partnered with STAIRS Foundation to launch the Indian Chess League (ICL). This initiative aims to foster young chess talent from grassroots levels, provide opportunities for players from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and elevate India’s global chess presence through a structured and inclusive ecosystem.
India’s chess landscape is undergoing substantial growth, both in terms of the number of grandmasters and the performance of Indian players on the global stage. T9L QUBE incubated startup RookTook partners with STAIRS Foundation to foster chess development with an ambition to nurture young Indian talent. Moreover, this strategic alliance aligns with STAIRS’ national movement “One India, One Goal” and RookTook’s ambitious goal to elevate chess from local tournaments and district-level competitions to a full-fledged national league by launching the Indian Chess League (ICL). This will further act as the foundation for launching an international league under Indian leadership. As lifelong chess lovers, T9L QUBE founders Gaurav Gaggar and Fahad Moti Khan are extremely excited about this partnership, which brings India’s biggest chess league to life.
Furthermore, this initiative will reestablish India’s global chess supremacy by building a structured, scalable, and inclusive chess ecosystem that identifies, nurtures, and promotes young chess talent from underserved communities, propelling them from grassroots levels to the international stage.
Mr. Shubham Rawal, CEO & Co-Founder of RookTook, said, “For too long, chess has been controlled by global brands that cater only to the elite, leaving casual and amateur players—the heart of the game—without real opportunities. At RookTook, we’re rewriting that story. We’re building a platform for players from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to monetise their skills, compete at scale, and rise to national and international levels. This partnership with STAIRS Foundation is a step toward making RookTook the #1 platform for tournaments in chess, where the next champion could come from anywhere.”
RookTook is India’s first chess platform that allows individuals to participate in daily tournaments and earn rewards. By leveraging its strong entrepreneurial skills within the digital and gaming technology ecosystem, the company aims to enhance the chess experience in India. RookTook will not only improve the gaming environment but also offer support for hybrid and offline event execution. This includes gamification, adaptive coaching modules, and event broadcasting setups.
Mr. Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder & President of STAIRS Foundation, emphasised, “India is in the midst of a youth-led transformation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and it is time we reclaim our rightful place in the intellectual sports we once gifted to the world. Chess, rooted in our civilisational heritage, is not just a game—it is a discipline of the mind, a tool for leadership, and a force for national unity. Through the Indian Chess League and our partnership with RookTook, we are activating STAIRS’s flagship programme ‘One India, One Goal’ to take chess from the grassroots to the global arena. This initiative also aligns strongly with the newly launched National Sports Policy by the Government of India, which emphasises talent development, inclusion, digital integration, and the country’s emergence as a global sporting powerhouse.”
By facilitating linkages with district, state, and national government agencies relevant to youth development, education, and sports, STAIRS will serve as the strategic anchor and national-level custodian of the ICL. Additionally, the foundation will anchor the design and implementation of the framework for chess skill certification, life skills integration, and livelihood-linked opportunities aligned with RookTook’s play-to-earn model. STAIRS will serve as a nodal institution for driving institutional credibility, community trust, and volunteer mobilisation. It will also provide leadership to the mission within its operational structure and community ecosystems, including schools, colleges, NGOs, and rural clusters, for global expansion.
The ICL will serve as a benchmark property for player scouting, competitive engagement, and national representation, ultimately evolving into a global platform showcasing India’s intellectual and cultural legacy in chess. By leveraging both digital and offline platforms, the initiative will treat chess not only as a sport but also as a powerful tool for cognitive growth, strategic thinking, leadership development, and national pride. This initiative underscores T9L’s pivotal role in transforming high-risk ventures into predictable success stories.
