An international chess arbiter and coach, Vikas has been contributing to the growth of chess in Udaipur. He is the secretary and member of AICF's ‘Chess in Schools’ mission. More than 3000 students have learned chess in his ‘Chess in Lakecity’ academy.

Vikas Sahu is an International Chess Arbiter, Chess Coach and the Secretary at Chess in Lakecity, Udaipur.

Vikas has also been working at St. Anthony’s School for the past eighteen years as a chess coach. His expertise as an international chess arbiter and coach has greatly benefited the students of the school. In addition to his coaching role, he actively contributes to the growth of chess in Udaipur through his academy, ‘Chess in Lakecity’ by organising various events and competitions, fostering a vibrant chess community in the city.  He is the secretary of ‘Chess in Lakecity’, He is also a member of the ‘Chess in Schools’ mission run by AICF. He actively works towards promoting chess as a sport and expanding its reach among students.

Vikas encourages and supports many young chess players to participate in chess tournaments. He says anyone who is over four years old can start learning chess and improve their skills with practice and dedication. One of his best students, Manthan Chittora, represented India in an international chess tournament held in Vietnam.  Like Manthan there are several other students who have excelled under Vikas's guidance and have achieved success in various chess tournaments. He claims that more than 3000 students have learned chess in his ‘Chess in Lakecity’ academy. His chess academy also organises FIDE arbiter seminars for candidates who want to pursue the field as instructors.

According to Vikas, chess was invented in India itself, as described in the great epic Ramayana, where Ravana's wife Mandodari played the game with Ravana and defeated him. He says chess has a bright future in India and believes that it has the potential to become a popular sport among the youth.

He says many chess players in India have already shown great potential at international competitions, and now they are offering their services as coaches.

Describing his journey, Vikas says he started playing chess in 1996, and in 2006 he started organising events and competitions to promote the game in his community. His father, Rajendra Teli is his inspiration, who himself is an International Arbiter and a chess coach.

As a chess player, Vikas achieved an international FIDE rating in 2006. He also started participating in national and international chess tournaments. Vikas says that before 2008, Udaipur chess players had to travel to other cities or states for tournaments and coaching. But because of his and his fellow chess lovers' efforts, Udaipur started witnessing international and national tournaments being organised in the city. Now, Udaipur has become a prominent destination for chess tournaments and coaching.

Vikas has received the ‘Maharana Raj Singh Award’ by the Maharana Mewar Foundation, Udaipur. He was also awarded by the district administration for his contribution to the promotion of chess in the local community.  He represented the country as a manager in the ASEAN Chess Championship held in Vietnam. Recently, the International Youth Chess Championship was held in Indonesia, and he was chosen as one of the Deputy Arbiters. Under his guidance, many students have been able to excel in chess and have won various national and international tournaments.

Speaking about his struggles, Vikas says it was not easy for him to follow chess as a profession. It's been eighteen years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance for Vikas to reach where he is today. He faced numerous challenges along the way, including financial constraints and limited opportunities for growth. However, his passion for the game and unwavering support from his father kept him motivated to overcome these obstacles and pursue his dreams in chess.

When asked about his role models, Vikas says he looks up to his father. He was inspired to learn to play chess after watching his father play the game. Apart from his father, many people have played a significant role in shaping Vikas's chess skills and knowledge. These people, especially Bharat Singh Chauhan, president of the Asian Chess Federation, have always been an inspiration to Vikas and have motivated him to strive for excellence in the game.

To the young chess aspirants, Vikas says chess has a wide scope not only as a game but also for them as coaches, arbiters and even as professional players. He believes that chess not only enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but also teaches valuable life lessons such as patience, discipline, and resilience. He encourages young players to pursue their passion for chess and explore the numerous opportunities it offers in both competitive and non-competitive areas. There are ample opportunities to explore and make a successful career. With his dedication and passion for the game, Vikas aims to inspire more young minds to take up chess and achieve great heights in the field.

Vikas's advice to the young Indians is that they should put all their hearts into their chosen field and not look for a shortcut to success.

He emphasises that true greatness is not achieved overnight, but through consistent effort and a willingness to overcome challenges. He encourages young Indians to embrace the journey of growth and learning, knowing that their dedication will ultimately lead them to their desired goals.