How We Can Make a Thriving Chess Community: The ChessNam Blueprint
The funding problem no one wants to talk about—and the business solution that actually works.
If you haven't read our first blog post about Wesley So's Sinquefield Cup victory and what it reveals about Philippine chess, read it first. This post builds directly on those insights about why our world-class talent leaves for better support systems abroad.
The Requirements: What a Thriving Chess Community Actually Needs
To build a chess community where talents like Wesley So develop under the Philippine flag, we need two fundamental things:
1. Consistent Tournament Funding
Regular tournaments with meaningful prize pools and systematic progression from local to elite competition.
2. International Competition Support
Financial backing for Filipino players competing abroad, including training support and travel funding.
These aren't luxuries. They're necessities. Every chess powerhouse provides this systematic support. That's why they consistently produce grandmasters and world champions.
We have the talent. We've always had the talent. What we don't have is the funding to support it properly.
The Funding Problem: Where Do We Get the Money?
The Obvious Answer That Doesn't Work
"The government should increase the funding for chess development like India!"
And they're absolutely right. India's systematic chess investment has produced incredible results: Gukesh became the youngest world champion at 18, Praggnanandhaa reached the World Cup final at 18, and Arjun Erigaisi broke into the world's top 5. India invested heavily in junior chess academies, provided systematic coaching from young ages, funded international competition participation, and created clear pathways from local tournaments to elite levels.
The reality? Government funding for chess development faces the same challenges as many other programs - bureaucratic processes, competing priorities, and uncertain budget allocations that make it difficult to rely on for consistent, long-term chess support.
Could we solve this systemic problem? Maybe. But it would be hard, bloody, and political.
As a chess player, I don't want to go into politics. I don't want to spend years fighting bureaucracy while another generation of chess talent leaves for better opportunities abroad.
I won't dwell on this topic because fixing Philippine political systems isn't ChessNam's purpose.
The Business Solution That Actually Works
If we can't rely on steady support from existing organizations, why not create an organization that generates money and gives it back to the chess community?
This still aligns perfectly with our mission of making the chess community thrive. It just does it through sustainable business instead of hoping for government funding that may never come.
The ChessNam Model: Self-Funded Community Development
Phase 1: Build Sustainable Revenue
- Create seamless tournament registration and payment systems
- Charge a modest service fee
- Generate revenue from tournament logistics, sponsorship partnerships, and premium features
- Achieve profitability to fund Phase 2 community reinvestment programs
Phase 2: Reinvest Into Community Growth
Profits earned go back into making chess stronger:
- Prize pool contributions for qualifying tournaments
- International competition sponsorship for elite players
- Training camps and coaching support
- Equipment and marketing support for organizers
Phase 3: Systematic Talent Support
- Regular international competition funding for elite players
- Systematic grandmaster title pursuit support
- Professional coaching and training resources
- Partnership development with international chess organizations
Why This Model Works Where Others Don't
Economic Sustainability
More tournaments → More revenue → Better support → More players → More tournaments. No dependence on external funding or political goodwill.
Immediate Value Creation
Tournament organizers get better tools right away. Players get better experiences immediately. Community sees tangible improvements within months, not years.
Mission Alignment
Revenue depends on serving the chess community well. Business success requires chess community success.
The Timeline: From Service to Support System
Phase 1: Prove the Business Model
- Launch tournament management platform
- Onboard 50+ organizers across major regions
- Process 1,000+ tournament registrations
- Generate first revenue from service fees
- Reinvest 50% of profits into community programs
Phase 2: Scale and Support
- Expand to all Philippine regions with active chess scenes
- Launch first prize pool enhancement programs
- Begin international competition sponsorship for promising players
- Reinvest 60% of profits into chess development
Phase 3: Systematic Impact
- Fund first Filipino player's systematic grandmaster title pursuit
- Launch comprehensive chess education and training programs
- Create sustainable sponsor network for ongoing support
- Reinvest 70% of profits into talent development
Phase 4: Institutional Backing
- Provide systematic support for multiple players in international competition
- Fund regular training camps and elite coaching programs
- Create pathways that keep top talent developing in the Philippines
- Become the institutional backbone Philippine chess never had
The Promise: Business Success = Community Success
ChessNam commits to this model because it's the only sustainable way to create the systematic support Philippine chess needs.
Every tournament registration fee contributes to:
- Better tournament experiences for all players
- Prize pool enhancements for competitive events
- International competition support for elite players
- The institutional backing that keeps Filipino chess players at home
Your Role in This Solution
Tournament Organizers: Use ChessNam's platform when it launches. Your participation creates the revenue that funds community development.
Chess Players: Register for tournaments through ChessNam. Know that your service fee directly contributes to supporting Filipino chess talent.
Chess Supporters: Promote systematic solutions over donation requests. Help build sustainable funding.
The Bottom Line
We can't wait for someone else to fund Philippine chess development.
We can't rely on charity and goodwill to create the systematic support our talent needs.
But we can build a business that generates sustainable funding by solving real problems for the chess community—and reinvest that success into keeping the next Wesley So competing under the Philippine flag.
This isn't just about building a profitable business. This is about proving that the chess community can fund its own development when given the right tools.
A thriving chess community needs consistent funding. Since we can't rely on external support, we're building the business model that creates it.
ChessNam: Turning chess service into chess support.