Why chess?
The evidence, including the inconvenient parts.
We publish what the research actually shows rather than only the findings that flatter the programme.
Numeracy outcomes in Classes 4–6 across 40 Indian schools
Encouraging2024–2026
Our own two-year evaluation in Maharashtra and Karnataka found pupils in the programme outperformed matched peers on standardised numeracy assessments, with the largest effects on spatial reasoning and problem-solving items. Not randomised; sample skews urban. A randomised trial begins in 2027.
Task persistence and classroom behaviour
Encouraging2025
Teacher-reported measures across 210 classrooms showed consistent improvements in sustained attention and willingness to attempt hard problems. Teacher report is a weak instrument and we treat these results as suggestive rather than conclusive.
Far transfer to general cognitive ability
Not supportedMeta-analyses, 2016–2023
The international literature does not support the claim that chess raises general intelligence. Effects reported in early studies shrink towards zero once active control groups are used. We do not make this claim and would encourage scepticism of anyone who does.
Social mobility and access
Mixed2023
Chess is unusually accessible — low cost, no language barrier, no physical requirement. But competitive pathways still favour children whose families can fund travel and coaching. Our tournament travel grants exist because of this finding.
How we evaluate our own work
Every school in the programme completes a baseline and end-of-year assessment. We share the results with the school whether they are good or not, and we publish aggregate findings annually.
Where a school sees no measurable benefit after a full year, we say so and we ask why. Sometimes the answer is that the timetable slot was wrong, or the coach was not a fit. Occasionally the answer is that chess was not the right intervention for that school, and we would rather know.
Questions about our methodology?
We are happy to share full protocols, instruments and anonymised data with researchers and funders.