Every parent wants to give their child the best opportunities in life. But what happens when dreams cost more than a family’s monthly income? For many parents, the hardest part is not encouraging talent- it is finding the money to keep that talent alive.India has become one of the world’s biggest chess powerhouses. Grandmasters like Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi have inspired thousands of children to pick up the game. Yet behind every celebrated success story are countless families quietly making extraordinary sacrifices so their children can continue chasing a dream.
3 Jul 2026 | 12:38
How do you teach children about money and financial responsibility?
One such story belongs to 15-year-old Sabarinathan Iyyappan, a FIDE-rated chess player from Tamil Nadu. His journey is built on the daily wages of a construction worker, and on the unwavering belief of a father who refused to let his son give up.
“Chess is costing us too much”
Sabarinathan studies in a government school in Nagapattinam district. Like many children, he discovered chess by chance after watching his younger brother play. Soon, both brothers wanted to compete professionally.But talent alone was never the family’s biggest challenge. According to a report in Financial Express, his father, Iyyappan, works as a construction labourer, earning around Rs 600–700 a day, and only when work is available. Every tournament meant calculating travel costs, accommodation, entry fees and food expenses- often more than what he earned in an entire day. Eventually, the teenager reached a point where guilt outweighed ambition. “There was a point when I told my father that chess was costing us too much and I could stop,” Sabarinathan told the outlet.Many parents may have accepted that decision. Financial reality often forces families to choose practicality over passion. But his father’s reply became the defining moment of his son’s journey. “Play as long as I am alive. You can think about stopping after that.”It was more than encouragement. It was a promise that his son’s dreams would never become a burden he had to carry alone.
A parent’s sacrifice children rarely see
Parents often hide the cost of nurturing a child’s talent. Children notice the tournament medals. They rarely notice the overtime shifts, skipped meals, postponed purchases or sleepless nights spent wondering how the next competition will be funded. In Sabarinathan’s family, the sacrifices were visible in every decision.Both brothers wanted to pursue competitive chess. But the family simply could not afford to support both. Eventually, only Sabarinathan continued travelling for tournaments while his younger brother stepped aside.Behind every young champion is often another child who quietly gives up their own dream, and parents who carry the emotional weight of making impossible choices.
When technology itself became a luxury
Photo credits: Instagram/@abrokecollegekid
Today’s young chess players depend heavily on online training, chess engines and virtual tournaments. For Sabarinathan, even that wasn’t guaranteed. Before receiving help, he practised and competed using his father’s old touchscreen mobile phone. During one important online tournament, connectivity problems cost him a winning position.Something as ordinary as owning a reliable device became another obstacle in his journey. Yet his routine never changed. After school, he attended tuition classes before spending another two hours every night training online. Talent, discipline and determination were always present. Resources were not.
When strangers became part of the family
Sometimes, the support children need comes from people they have never met. Sabarinathan’s story reached Mohamed Ashik, who runs the Instagram page A Broke College Kid. Moved by the teenager’s determination, Ashik shared his story online.The response was overwhelming. Donations helped provide an iPad, a professional chessboard and structured coaching under coach Balamurugan. Popular chess content creator Suthershun (GoofyGenChess) gifted him a chessboard signed by India’s legendary grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. Ashik also arranged for the teenager to attend the Chennai Grand Masters tournament, where he finally met Anand in person.For a child who had largely watched elite chess through limited internet access, it was a reminder that dreams can sometimes become real.
His father’s dream remains beautifully simple
Despite all the attention, Iyyappan’s biggest wish is not fame. It is balance. “I want chess and education for him together. If there is a school that can support both, that is all I ask.” The statement reflects what countless Indian parents hope for- that their children can pursue extraordinary ambitions without sacrificing education or financial security.
The parenting lesson hidden inside a chessboard
Parents often worry that they cannot provide enough because they cannot afford expensive coaching, elite schools or the latest gadgets. Sabarinathan’s story offers a different lesson. Children certainly need opportunities, resources and guidance. But what they remember most is often the confidence their parents place in them.A single sentence can become a lifelong source of strength.When Sabarinathan wanted to give up, his father did not promise sponsorships or victories. He simply promised that his son’s dream mattered enough to keep fighting for. That belief may ultimately become more valuable than any trophy.Because years from now, if the teenager does become a Grandmaster, people will remember the medals. But he will probably remember the day his father looked at him and said: “Play as long as I am alive.” Sometimes, that is exactly what children need to hear.
