The custom of coordinated competitive chess started in the 16th century. The All India Chess Federation in the post-independence was founded in the year 1951. The first official National Chess Championship organized by The All India Chess Federation was held at Eluru (Andhra Pradesh). This National Chess Championship initially used to be held at every alternate year but since 1971 it is being held every year. Some of the noted Indian chess players are:

Manuel Aaron: This renowned chess player holds the honor of holding the title `the first International master`. After retirement, he is endlessly striving even today for the betterment of Chess playings in India.

Dibyendu Barua: In the 2nd board in Chess Olympiad held in the year1990, Dibyendu Barua also won Gold Medal, the second grandmaster after Viswanathan Anand.

Sandipan Chanda: An growing face of Bengal in the field of Chess, Sandipan Chanda, is an chess grandmaster title holder. The number of matches he has played are 279.

Sahaj Grover: A chess prodigy hails from Delhi, India, Sahaj Grover won the under-10 world chess championship in the year 2005. He is the youngest amongst those who gain a rating in the World.

Abhijeet Gupta: The Limca Book of Records in the year 2002, after becoming the youngest National junior (under-19) champion at the age of 13 years, include Abhijeet`s name. His career spans from the year 1999 to 2007.

Pentala Harikrishna: Pentala Harikrishna is rated third next to Viswanathan Anand & Krishnan Sasikiran. The highest rating he has achieved is 2682. Harikrishna, in the year 2001, became the youngest grandmaster from India.

Humpy Koneru: In the field of Chess, Humpy Koneru is the youngest woman to become an international grandmaster. In Chess history Susan Polgar was the second-highest ranked female player.

Srinath Narayanan: Srinath Narayanan, a FIDE master, is a child prodigy. The highest rating achieved by him is 2280.

Parimarjan Negi: A child prodigy, Parimarjan Negi is the youngest Indian to earn the Grandmaster title and the world`s youngest International Master. Parimarjan smacked his first international success in the year 2002, after winning the Asian Under-10 championship held at Tehran.

Magesh Panchanathan: Magesh Panchanathan, USA based Chess player who hails from India stays at Dallas, present FIDE rating is 2486. The most notable game played by him took place in the year 2006 against E Varshavsky.

Ramachandran Ramesh: Indian grand master, Ramachandran Ramesh also won the British Chess Championship.

Gauri Shankar: A child prodigy, who in his chess career has drawn and defeated many International Masters.

Krishnan Sasikiran: In the year 2000, at the Commonwealth Championship, he became an International Chess Grandmaster. Sasikiran was ranked number 21 in the world with an Elo rating of 2700 FIDE rating list as on the January 2007.

Tania Sachdev: Her parents after recognizing that she was good, decided to provide her with professional training.

Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman: The name is synonimous to the words, high-level, quality playing, who has also inflamed the ineterst of Women chess playing in India. Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman has been a five-time national champion throughout her career span.

Mir Sultan Khan: The first Asian grand master according to modernistic rule. He was more often than not considered to have been the most substantial chess master of his time from Asia.

Arjun Vishnuvardhan: This chess wizard after a break of one year from chess, in the year 2004 came back to the International chess circuit. This time a tremendous form of him the world experienced.