The National School Chess League (NSCL) 2026 has begun onboarding schools across India through a free digital program. Headed by World Champion Gukesh, the initiative provides structured chess education with interactive lessons and competitions. Schools and individual students can register online at no cost.
The National School Chess League (NSCL) 2026, presented by CircleChess, is now open for participation from schools throughout India. This free initiative aims to deliver structured chess education via a digital platform, focusing on learning, practice, and competitive play. The program is led by World Champion Gukesh, with structure provided by coach Vishnu Prasanna and International Master Soumya Swaminathan.
Participating students gain access to curriculum-based interactive chess lessons, assignments, monthly assessments, school and national leaderboards, and competitive opportunities at school, inter-school, state, and national levels. Upon completion of the structured cycle, students receive official certificates signed by Gukesh. The program culminates in a national competition for those who finish the cycle.
Schools can join by submitting basic details and a student list on the NSCL website, where the NSCL team manages login credentials, dashboard activation, and setup. The entirely digital system requires no additional faculty, infrastructure changes, or costs for schools. It is open to CBSE, ICSE, and state-board institutions, with applications available at the NSCL 2026 School Partnership page. For coordination, schools can contact nscl@circlechess.com.
Individual students also have the option to register directly via the Student Registration portal. For schools seeking more support, optional advanced training includes live online classes, group sessions, competition preparation, and pathways for high-performing students.
