A bright torch set off from Delhi’s Red Fort on June 20 to mark the preliminary preparation for the Chess Olympiad to be held in Chennai next month. It is a homecoming for a sport that traces its origins to the ancient Indian board game, chaturanga. With names like Viswanathan Anand, Koneru Humpy and the recent prodigy, R Praggnanandhaa, India now stands at the cusp of a new legacy. While Mumbai has been the homeground of cricket, it hides within its quiet alleyways a blooming chess community. We mark out hotspots across the city and its suburbs for chess afficianados to check out.

>>ChessBase India

One of the largest chess portals in the country, Chess Base India, also conducts regular competitions in the city. Phoenix Market City in Kurla is their regular haunt where they gather every weekend for an open competition. The portal also offers access to reading material, tutorials and masterclass series.
On: Saturdays; 5 pm to 7 pm  
At: Phoenix Market City, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Kurla West
Log On To: chessbase.in