Narayani Marathe secures Vijay Ranade e4 Scholarship of Rs. 20,000 every month
Former National U-7 Girls Champion and Asian Youth U-8 Girls Champion (Classical & Rapid) Narayani Marathe comes from a small town in Maharashtra, called Nandurbar. But her talent has taken her dreams far beyond its borders. Her achievements stand out even more when you realize the challenges her family faced in supporting her chess journey. Sachin Ranade, a New York-based finance professional, has been financially supporting her since September 2024 through consistent monthly contributions. He even gifted his personal laptop to Narayani this year. With his generous help, Narayani has been able to attend coaching camps, play more tournaments, and focus on her growth. For Sachin, this support represents the most fulfilling chapter of his own chess story. Check out the article to know more.
The many ways to love chess!
How many of you have loved chess since childhood? And how many of you have drifted away from it over the years? Well, if you are reading this article, you are in touch with chess, so congratulations! But does being close to chess only mean playing it professionally? Not at all. There are many ways of being part of the chess world. For me, it’s through writing, for you, it could be through reading, and for others, it’s watching commentary. There are many more ways to stay connected with chess. One impactful way is to support the current players. Because without nurturing the present, there can be no future.
That is exactly the vision behind the HelpChess Foundation, the charitable initiative of ChessBase India. We act as a bridge between well-wishers of chess and chess players who need financial support. Over the years, it has helped many players access better coaching, travel to tournaments, and chase their dream of pursuing chess. And it’s not just the players who benefit; those who contribute also get to nurture their own love and passion for the game through HelpChess Foundation.
Every supporter has a unique connection to chess. In this article, you will know about Sachin Ranade, who probably has a story about every top Super Grandmaster you can think of.
You name them and he has a picture with them...
Sachin's photo with these players reminds me of Vijay Rajendran. It's inspiring to see such dedicated fans trying to give their best to the community! These fans really live and breathe chess.
Sachin Ranade is a finance professional based in New York. He is part of Citadel’s Finance division, where he leads the Treasury product control initiative. For him, chess is a cherished family tradition. His father taught him the game when he was 7 years old. He grew up playing chess with his sister with the sole intention of “never letting her win”. He went on to represent his school and college in tournaments. Today, many years later, despite his busy life, his devotion to chess remains as strong as ever!
But Sachin’s connection to chess evolved from fandom to a deeper purpose. He met Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale in Mumbai, who introduced him to the Asian Youth U-8 Chess Champion 2024, Narayani Marathe. As a father to a young daughter himself, Sachin felt proud after looking at Narayani’s achievements. He felt inspired by the potential of women in chess. Since September 2024, he has been supporting Narayani financially with Rs. 10,000 per month, and in July 2025, he increased it to Rs. 20,000 per month. Initially, Sachin supported her directly, but now he has chosen to channel it through the HelpChess Foundation. So far, he has donated Rs. 1,60,000 to Narayani. “Watching Narayani succeed feels like I am giving back to the game that gave me so much joy,” he says.
With this, Sachin’s journey has come full circle: from the boy who loved playing chess to the man who now helps nurture the next generation.
Little drops of water make the mighty ocean. No contribution is too small. In the complex economy of human life, money typically buys goods and services. But when directed towards charity, it creates something intangible yet eternal: the emotional satisfaction of contributing to a greater good. Those who haven’t experienced it yet are truly missing something special!
- Sachin Ranade.
Narayani Marathe: Recipient of Vijay Ranade e4 Chess Scholarship
Narayani Marathe is a young chess prodigy from Nandurbar, Maharashtra. She is currently ranked no. 9 in the U-9 girls category in India. She became the National U-7 Girls Champion in 2023. Last year, she secured double gold at the 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships in the Under-8 Girls category in classical and rapid formats.
The emotional weight of Narayani's achievements is best understood through the words of her father. He once shared that the family struggled to afford even state-level tournaments. As the sole earner in a family of seven, saving for major events like the Asian Championships or the World Cup seemed impossible.
When Narayani won the National Championship, her family was worried about how to fund the next step in her career. That’s when they reached out to HelpChess Foundation. The financial support boosted their confidence and also Narayani’s motivation. Soon after, she went on to win double gold at the Asian Championships.
With the support of Sachin, Narayani is able to attend coaching camps. He even gifted Narayani his personal laptop in February 2025. It’s incredible to see the amount of effort and support Sachin is putting in for Narayani!
He genuinely believes in Narayani and often wonders how a small girl from a tribal town is competing with players from all over the country. He is really kind and always encourages us. Our heartfelt thanks also go to Sagar Sir, Amruta Ma’am, and the entire ChessBase India team for their support.
- Umesh Marathe, Narayani’s father.
Narayani continues to grow stronger, and her ultimate dream is to become a Grandmaster. Her inspiration comes from none other than Judit Polgar, the greatest woman chess player in history!
