Sponsorship · FY 2026–27

Backing a 19-year-old Grandmaster through the most expensive stretch of a chess career

The climb from 2600 to the world's elite. 6 international titles already won, and a season that needs funding to continue.

Where he stands

Proven at the top

Beat or drew grandmasters rated 2600+ in each of the last three seasons. Three international titles since November 2025.

Still ascending

Gained 46 rating points in sixteen months and crossed 2600 for the first time in January 2026, aged 19.

Fully documented

FIDE-rated results, live game broadcasts and a nine-year line-item expense record — nothing to take on trust.

Who already backs him

He is not starting from nothing, and none of this is exclusive. Coaching and funding are listed separately below because they are different things — two of these give training, not money.

Works with

Chola Chess
WestBridge Anand Chess Academy

Funded by

HPCL
Group e4
Quantbox Research

Previously

Syndicate Bank, now Canara Bank — a one-time grant in 2016, the first institution to back him, at nine years old
24|7.ai Foundation — 2017 to 2025

Those eight years took him from a state under-11 champion to India's 76th Grandmaster. The backing that arrived early is the reason there is a career to fund now.

What the year costs

This is the stage where the costs rise sharply. Stronger events mean longer travel, deeper preparation and a full-time coaching programme, and prize money at open tournaments is designed to reward a result rather than to fund a season.

Coaching, camps and practice play ₹8,00,000

International opens and leagues — 8 to 10 events ₹8,00,000

Seconds and opening preparation ₹2,00,000

Domestic events, engines and databases, fitness ₹2,00,000

FY 2026–27 requirement ₹20,00,000

Figures are in Indian rupees. One lakh is 100,000, so the requirement above is ₹2,000,000 — approximately US$21,000.

Every rupee goes to chess. No administrative overhead, no salary, no marketing line.

Commercial partnership

Paid from a marketing budget, in exchange for visibility. Each partner is exclusive in their own category, so a bank and an airline can both back him without either losing anything.

Title partner ₹10L One partner, category-exclusive

Named as title partner in announcements and interviews
Primary logo on playing shirt and travel kit
Two corporate simuls or speaking engagements a year
Quarterly report with full expense reconciliation, and an annual review in person
First right of refusal on renewal

Principal partner ₹6L One partner, category-exclusive

Secondary logo on playing shirt
Named in event and result announcements
One corporate simul or speaking engagement
Quarterly report with expense reconciliation
Signed memorabilia from a titled event

Supporting partner ₹4L Up to three, each category-exclusive

Logo on this website and on social channels
Named in tournament and result posts
Half-yearly report with expense reconciliation
Signed memorabilia from a titled event

Event partner ₹3L Funds one international open

That event carries your name in all coverage of it
Post-event report with the games and the accounts
Signed scoresheet from the tournament

For sponsors outside India, those tiers are approximately US$10,500, US$6,300, US$4,200 and US$3,200 a year. Terms normally run 3 years, so a title partnership is around US$31,500 across the full term.

Performance escalator

Commercial partners can structure part of the fee as a bonus rather than a flat sum — payable on crossing 2650. It costs less if the season goes badly and it puts both sides on the same side of the result. Say so in the form and we will draft it.

Philanthropic support

Routed through NAAV Foundation, the registered non-profit that supports several Indian juniors including Pranav, and receipted under 80G. No branding attaches to any of it — that is the point, and it is what keeps the spend eligible as CSR.

Benefactor ₹5L 80G receipt via NAAV Foundation

Annual impact report and full expense reconciliation
Named in the annual report, if you would like to be
No branding or marketing rights — this keeps the spend CSR-eligible

Patrons' circle ₹25,000 Individuals, any number

Invitation to an annual game-review evening with Pranav
Tournament-by-tournament email through the season
Named on this website, if you would like to be

Indian donors only

This route runs through NAAV Foundation, which is not registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and therefore cannot accept donations from foreign sources. Sponsors outside India should use the commercial ladder above — that is a payment for visibility rather than a donation, and is not restricted in the same way. The 80G receipt is in any case only worth anything against Indian taxable income.

Why these are listed apart

Under Section 135 of the Companies Act, spending undertaken to derive a marketing benefit does not qualify as CSR. Logo rights and an 80G CSR receipt therefore cannot sit in the same package, however convenient that would be. Companies wanting both usually do two things: a sponsorship from the marketing budget, and a separate CSR contribution through the Foundation. We are happy to set up either or both.

What each partner gets

	Title ₹10L	Principal ₹6L	Supporting ₹4L	Event ₹3L	Benefactor ₹5L	Patron ₹25,000
Category exclusivity	yes	yes	yes	—	—	—
Logo on playing shirt	primary	secondary	—	—	—	—
Logo on site and socials	yes	yes	yes	—	—	—
Named in event announcements	yes	yes	yes	yes	—	—
Named on this website	yes	yes	yes	yes	opt in	opt in
Corporate simul or talk	2 / yr	1 / yr	—	—	—	—
Game-review evening	yes	yes	yes	—	yes	yes
Expense reconciliation	quarterly	quarterly	half-yearly	per event	annual	annual
80G receipt	—	—	—	—	yes	yes

Terms are normally three years with an annual review — 2600 to 2700 is not a one-season project. Anything here can be split, combined or reshaped; these are starting points, not a menu.