In the global chess community, talent knows no borders. A child in Singapore, India, or anywhere else deserves to grow in an environment of trust, mentorship, and respect. However, we’ve recently observed a concerning trend: organizations aggressively targeting young players—regardless of their federation, flag, or coach affiliation.
Cold calls & emails. Promises of prestige. And behind it all, a transactional mindset that treats children as assets to be acquired, not individuals to be nurtured. At Intchess Asia, we stand for something different.
We Don’t Poach. We Protect.
Whether a player is from Singapore, India, or anywhere else, their journey deserves dignity. We’ve seen cases where players—already thriving under dedicated coaches—are approached and redirected without acknowledgment of their roots.
• Under 8 & 10 champions are bombarded with recruitment messages.
• International players are lured with vague promises of “national development.”
• Original coaches are erased from the narrative.
This isn’t development. It’s a disruption.
Our Talent Management System: Built for Legacy, Not Headlines
We’ve designed a full-spectrum pathway that honors every stage of a player’s growth.
Our coaching team includes:
• FIDE Senior Trainers with decades of pedagogical excellence
• Grandmasters from Europe, Asia, and the Americas with deep international networks
• Mentors who understand emotional nuance, not just technical precision
We don’t chase flags. We honor stories.
The Problem With Cross-Federation Targeting
When organizations begin recruiting players from other federations—without transparency, without respect—it undermines the very spirit of chess. It fractures trust between coaches and families. It commodifies children. And it erodes the values that Chess is meant to teach.
We believe in development that’s emotionally intelligent, ethically grounded, and globally respectful.
Development Is Not a Grab. It’s a Gift
At Intchess Asia, we don’t just train players. We protect their journey. We honor their coaches. And we build a legacy that spans borders—without ever crossing ethical lines.
If you’re a parent—whether in Singapore, India, or beyond—wondering where your child will be truly valued, not just recruited, come talk to us. We’re not just building champions. We’re building character.
I remember several years ago, the then President of the Federation, Mr. Leong, invited all the directors of chess companies to the federation. And he proposed to start working together to implement the FIDE program “Chess for Schools”. Then I realized how good it is to have such a Federation that really unites all chess forces. The then federation traditionally opened the doors for many children to take lessons from the Federation after two national championships. Partnerships were established between the Federation and other companies and coaches. And what the current Federation is doing is extremely outrageous. I think if the federation continues such “work” as luring promising children to its side, then all companies should contact FIDE with a complaint and ask: does the chess federation have the right to be a chess company at the same time? After all, being a company, it can pursue a policy that divides chess forces, leads to negative emotions and indignation. I will also add that the current federation has shown everyone its weakness, not its strength. The strong do not act like that.
When a federation abandons its unifying role and begins operating like a private company—poaching students, trainers, and schools—it fractures the very foundation of chess development. The sport ceases to be a vehicle for character growth and community building. Instead, it becomes an ego-driven marketplace, where short-term financial gain overrides long-term vision.
This kind of behavior erodes trust. It sends a message to children, parents, and coaches that loyalty and values are secondary to opportunism. Without a clear, robust developmental framework, the ecosystem becomes chaotic—each entity pulling in its own direction, with no shared standards, no pedagogical integrity, and no emotional safety.
Chess needs leadership that models strength through collaboration, not control. A federation should elevate all forces, not compete with them. When it fails to do so, it’s not just strategy that suffers—it’s the soul of the sport.
Absolutely right. I would like to add. The gentlemen who are currently in charge of the federation must first of all understand what a federation is. The definition of a federation must be in the first words of its charter. Today, the chess federation has turned into a chess company, which also organizes and holds competitions. Moreover, a company that, by pressuring and luring promising students, contributes to the split of chess in Singapore. It seems to me that the ideal model for today is to return to the system that operated under Mr. Leong. Otherwise, all chess companies can complain to FIDE about the destructive work of the federation.