Nepali youngsters Rupesh Jaiswal and Bibek Thing embarked on a new voyage of chess as the teens left for Russia on Thursday for a six-year sports scholarship.

Following a direct approach by the World Chess Federation (Fide) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Peoples’ Friendship University is providing six-year scholarships to the rising players.  The two will complete their graduation from the Moscow-based University apart from undergoing regular training and playing in Russia’s national and international tournaments. Before starting their academic career, the duo will also undergo one-year Russian language course.

Jaiswal is the youngest Nepali chess player to get the Fide Master (FM) title, a feat he achieved after a fine performance in the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship held in Nepal. The 17-year old had earned highest points from Nepal in the event. Jaiswal is the only second player to exceed 2200 rating points.

Thing is two years older than Jaiswal but his playing career began two years later than the FM. Current U-19 national champion Thing had earned the Candidate Master (CM) title, the lowest classification in international chess, after the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship.

After playing chess for the country for over a decade, Jaiswal believes his career has just started. “This is just the beginning of our career and the next six years will define our path,” said Jaiswal.

Having given consistent performance as the Nepal No 1 player, Jaiswal is tipped to be the first Nepal player with International Master (IM) title. And he has set himself with higher ambitions. “My target is to become a Grand Master (GM). But we have to give our best and work really hard,” said Jaiswal.

“We will be able to train under the IMs and GMs of Russia. I am expecting to train under world champions as well. That experience coupled with playing competitive chess will be a perfect platform for me to earn the highest title. We just have to grab the opportunity that has been offered to us,” added the teen who a graduate student in social work.

Groomed as the next big thing in chess, Thing—a management student—harbours the same ambition as Jaiswal. “The possibilities of earning IM and GM titles will be

higher but it requires hard work. We will remain committed. Most importantly, the scholarship will open up

global opportunities for us,” said Thing.

Jaiswal believed that once they succeed in earning higher chess title (IM or GM), Nepal will see professionalism in chess. “If we achieve big titles, it will be a big

motivation for the upcoming generation. The new players will be lured to pursue

chess career and we can see more titles coming in.

We   can see a professional set up of Nepali chess,” said Jaiswal.