Nine-year-old Indian chess player Anvi Hinge has become the world’s youngest Women’s Candidates Master after a breakthrough performance at an international tournament in Alicante, marking a rapid rise for one of India’s emerging chess talents.

Anvi, who comes from Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune, entered the tournament with an Elo rating in the early 1600s, nearly 200 points short of the 1800 benchmark required for the Women’s Candidates Master (WCM) title awarded by FIDE.Her father, Deepak Hinge, said he viewed the tournament primarily as another developmental step in her young career rather than a realistic opportunity to secure the title.

Over nine rounds in Spain, however, Anvi delivered what her family described as the strongest performance of her career so far. She scored 6.5 points with six wins and gained 175 Elo rating points, enough to cross the required threshold for the WCM title.The performance saw her finish joint fourth overall, emerge as the highest-ranked Indian player at the event and secure first place in the women’s category.

The result also elevated her to the world number one position in the FIDE Under-9 girls rankings, making her the only WCM title-holder currently competing in that age category.Anvi’s latest achievement adds to a growing list of national and international results accumulated before the age of 10. She previously won the girls’ state championship in the Under-7 category and secured a bronze medal at the national championships in India.

In 2025, she earned silver in the Under-8 category at the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships held in Greece and finished runner-up in the same category at the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Malaysia.

Her strongest multi-medal performance came earlier this year at the Western Asian Youth Chess Championships in Tajikistan, where she won two gold and four silver medals as part of India’s 31-medal haul at the tournament.According to her family, Anvi’s introduction to chess came through her older brother Aarush.

Deepak Hinge, a software engineer, taught her the fundamentals before enrolling her at a local chess academy when she was four-and-a-half years old.She initially trained at Tactical Moves Chess Academy in Pune before moving into more structured coaching environments.

Her current coaching team includes Praveen Thipsay and Pune-based FIDE Master Siddhant Gaikwad.Her development has also been supported by Chola Chess Academy, founded by Dronacharya awardee RB Ramesh. The academy provides in-person and virtual coaching for selected young chess talents across India.

Through academy-linked scholarship support, Anvi currently trains multiple times each week under grandmasters including Kidambi Sundararajan, Debashis Das and Thej Kumar MS.Deepak Hinge said a visit to the Global Chess League in Mumbai significantly influenced his daughter’s ambitions.

During the event, Anvi met leading Indian players, including reigning world champion D Gukesh and former world champion Viswanathan Anand.“She got really inspired looking at all these players,” Deepak said, adding that Gukesh’s interactions with younger players left a strong impression on his daughter.

“Since then, she talks about how she also wants to become like them,” he said.Deepak described himself and his wife as facilitators rather than directors of Anvi’s chess journey, stressing that they support her interest in the game without imposing expectations.Alongside chess training, he said the family places emphasis on history and storytelling as part of her upbringing.

Each night, he reads to Anvi from books about historical figures including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Bajirao I and Maharani Tarabai.He said the stories are intended not only to teach history but also to help instill resilience and discipline as she navigates the pressures of competitive chess at an early age.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing chess nations in recent years, driven by the success of players such as Gukesh, Anand and a rising generation of young grandmasters. Anvi’s emergence adds to the country’s expanding pipeline of junior talent competing at international level before reaching adolescence.

The team’s success on home soil has created new opportunities for endorsements, sponsorships, and wider recognition across sports and entertainment platforms.

After a challenging start to the tournament, India made a strong comeback, defeating seven-time champions Australia in the semi-final and securing a historic win over South Africa in the final.

The victory has been described as a defining moment for women’s cricket in India, drawing attention from fans, brands, and media alike.

The triumph at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium sparked celebrations nationwide, and within hours, several players began receiving endorsement offers.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur quickly became the face of new brand campaigns, reflecting the growing commercial interest in India’s women athletes.

Batter Harleen Deol’s lighthearted interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a post-victory event also caught the attention of brands.

Soon after, a popular skincare company featured her in a new campaign that highlighted her confidence and charm.

Jemimah Rodrigues, one of India’s standout players, became a viral sensation even before the final when a detergent brand turned her mud-stained jersey photo into an advertisement.

Her vibrant energy and growing social media presence continue to make her a favorite among companies looking to connect with younger audiences.

Sports marketing experts have called this achievement a major milestone for women’s sports in India.

They note that players like Smriti Mandhana, Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh have become household names, representing a new era for women in professional cricket.

Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director of Baseline Ventures, which represents several team members, said endorsement offers are pouring in across different categories.

He estimated a 20–25% rise in brand value for most players, with even higher growth for Smriti Mandhana due to her exceptional global popularity.

Mandhana, known for her strong on-field performances and engaging public image, has over 14 million social media followers.

Her influence extends beyond cricket, making her one of the most sought-after athletes in India’s sports marketing landscape.

According to industry executives, players are now being approached by brands beyond the traditional fast-moving consumer goods sector.

New partnerships include companies from industries such as automobiles, telecommunications, finance, and technology, indicating a broader shift in sponsorship trends.

Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, confirmed that endorsement values have multiplied since the World Cup.

He said long-term partnerships have been finalized with several players, reflecting brands’ growing confidence in women’s cricket.

Yadav highlighted that India’s semi-final victory against Australia was a turning point that boosted visibility and engagement for women’s cricket nationwide.

He added that the final win further strengthened the players’ market value, doubling commercial deals for many team members.

Industry analysts believe the women’s team’s success could have a lasting impact on the country’s sports ecosystem.
More young girls may now view cricket as a viable professional path, supported by rising brand partnerships and institutional investment.

Sports agencies suggest that long-term brand collaborations with players could yield stronger mutual benefits.

By investing early in young talents such as Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues, brands can grow alongside athletes who are expected to remain at the top for many years.

As women’s cricket continues to gain momentum, the Indian team’s World Cup success is being hailed as both a sporting and cultural milestone.

It has redefined the market dynamics for female athletes and opened the door for greater equality in sports sponsorship and representation.