Yudhajeet De
 Indian blind chess player Yudhajeet De | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Yudhajeet De |
| Born | 1996 (age 29–30) Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal, India |
| Chess career | |
| Country | India |
Yudhajeet De is an Indian blind chess player, coach, and chess organiser from Uttarpara, West Bengal. He is a recipient of the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (2025), conferred by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.[1] He represented India at the IBCA Asian Chess Championship for the Visually Challenged in 2017, finishing with a strong 4/8 score and holding a joint lead early in the tournament.[2][3][4]
Early life
Yudhajeet De was born in 1996 in Uttarpara, Hooghly district, West Bengal, India, to Arup Kumar De and Ruma De.[5][6] He is visually impaired and developed an interest in chess at the age of six under his mother's guidance.[6] He has a twin brother, Deeptyajeet De, who is also blind; Deeptyajeet learned chess from Yudhajeet and went on to become an internationally FIDE-rated player.[7] In addition to chess, Yudhajeet completed an eight-year course in sitar with distinction, receiving the Best Creative Child award from the Governor of West Bengal in 2011.[6]
Chess career
De has competed in National and International chess tournaments for visually impaired players. He represented India in Asian Blind Chess Championships organised under the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA).[8][9]
Coaching and organising
De acts as a professional chess coach, training both sighted and visually impaired players across India.[10] He is associated with the Bally Chess Academy, where he provides training to young sighted boys and girls, and also conducts online coaching classes.[6]
In July 2025, De independently organized an open chess tournament in Uttarpara tailored for sighted players. The tournament attracted 70 participants, including 10 FIDE-rated players.[6][10]
Awards and recognition
- National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (2025), Government of India.[11]
References
- ↑ "Blind chess maestro redefines vision". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ↑ "Bangladesh, India lead in Asian chess for the blind". The Hindu. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "IBCA Asian Chess Championship: Ejaz Husain leads IBCA Asian Chess meet with full points". The Times of India. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Aaron, Arvind. "Indians Dominate Asian Blind Championship". All India Chess Federation. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Paul, Ayan (20 July 2015). "Sponsorship stalemate checkmates champ". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Paul, Ayan (3 December 2025). "Blind chess maestro redefines 'vision', journey from modest Uttarpara home to National Glory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Paul, Ayan (28 February 2015). "Brothers checkmate blindness - CHESS CHAMPS: TEEN TWINS SCORE WITH ALL THE RIGHT MOVES". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Bangladesh, India lead in Asian chess for the blind". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ↑ "Ejaz Husain leads IBCA Asian chess meet with full points". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- 1 2 "উত্তরপাড়া থেকে উত্তরণ, রাজা-মন্ত্রী সামলে রাষ্ট্রপতি ভবনের অলিন্দে বাংলার দৃষ্টিহীন দাবাড়ু যুধাজিৎ" [Ascent from Uttarpara, Bengal's visually impaired chess player Yudhajeet in the balcony of Rashtrapati Bhavan managing King-Minister]. Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 5 December 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "List of National Awardees for the year 2025" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 9 February 2026.