He spotted Gukesh's X factor in an online fitness class!

by Harsh Kumar - 14/11/2026

Sandeep Singhal noticed something in a teenager on a Covid-era video call. Four years later, this teenager becomes the youngest world chess champion! Sandeep is the co-founder of WestBridge Capital, which went on to back World Champion D Gukesh, GM R Vaishali and a new generation of Indian players. This is how that story began, with a fitness class during Covid.

An online fitness class

During Covid, the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy ran its classes online. One of them had nothing to do with chess. It was a physical fitness session.

Everyone logged in. Only one player came prepared.

All the WACA candidates joined, but the person who was totally prepared was Gukesh. He was ready with the mat and clothes. I knew that he was looking for that little X factor.
- Sandeep Singhal

In December 2024, that boy became the 18th World Champion. One of the first people to hug him was Sandeep Singhal, the man who had spotted that X factor in an online fitness class four years earlier.

Sandeep Singhal hugs Gukesh moments after he became World Champion, Singapore 2024

Sandeep Singhal and WestBridge

Sandeep is the co-founder and managing partner of WestBridge Capital, an investment firm focused on India. Chess is not his business. Yet over the last five years, WestBridge has sponsored four Grandmasters, D Gukesh, R Vaishali, Pranav V and Ilamparthi A R, and Sandeep co-founded the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA) with Vishy Anand.

He spoke to ChessBase India about WestBridge and its work in chess in this interview with Vishy Anand:

How WACA started

Anand once came to Bangalore to speak at a WestBridge event. He told ChessBase India what happened next:

After the event, as I was leaving for the airport, Sandeep asked me if I would like to work with him in some way. After I came back to Chennai, we began communicating. If WestBridge wanted to support chess, this was an excellent way to start.

Sandeep Singhal and Vishy Anand, the two minds behind WACA

The WACA fellows

WACA launched in December 2020 with five fellows: Nihal Sarin, R Praggnanandhaa, Raunak Sadhwani, D Gukesh and R Vaishali. Anand mentored them himself, with help from three of his former seconds: Artur Yusupov, Sandipan Chanda and Grzegorz Gajewski.

Gukesh was rated around 2550 at the time. Anand set one clear goal: "What I want to see from this is to make sure some of them will break into the top 10."

Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa both did.

WACA at launch. Top (L to R): Sandeep Singhal, Vishy Anand, Artur Yusupov, Sandipan Chanda, Grzegorz Gajewski. Bottom: Nihal Sarin, R Vaishali, D Gukesh, Raunak Sadhwani and R Praggnanandhaa

The WACA family at the WestBridge office in Bengaluru, 2022

Candidates 2024, Toronto

WestBridge became Gukesh's main sponsor. In April 2024, when Gukesh won the Candidates in Toronto, Sandeep was there with the team.

A picture from the Candidates 2024 in Toronto (L to R): Dr. Rajini Kanth, Gukesh, Grzegorz Gajewski and Sandeep Singhal

A picture from the Candidates 2024 in Toronto (L to R): Dr. Rajini Kanth, Gukesh, Grzegorz Gajewski and Sandeep Singhal | Photo: Sagar Shah

World Championship 2024, Singapore

Before the World Championship match, WACA brought in Paddy Upton, the mental conditioning coach known for his work with the Indian cricket team. WACA reached out to him through Olympic Gold Quest, as Upton explained in an interview with ChessBase India. He doesn't usually work with young athletes. Gukesh changed his mind:

I generally don't work with young athletes because they don't have a great ability to self-reflect. But very shortly into my first conversation with Gukesh, I realised that not only is he an incredible chess player, but he also has a remarkable ability to self-reflect.
- Paddy Upton

Paddy Upton helped Gukesh handle the pressure of the World Championship match

Paddy Upton helped Gukesh handle the pressure of the World Championship match | Photo: Eng Chin An

Gukesh lost the first game of the match. He came back to beat Ding Liren 7½-6½.

Right after the title. Sandeep Singhal (left) with Gukesh, Paddy Upton, Grzegorz Gajewski and Dr. Rajini Kanth

WACA celebrations, Bengaluru

In January 2025, WACA threw a celebration for the new World Champion at the Good Shepherd Auditorium in Bengaluru. Gukesh had a few specially made rings with him. He gave one to each of the people who had helped him most on the way to the title.

Sandeep got one.

Gukesh presents Sandeep Singhal with a ring at WACA's celebration, Bengaluru 2025

Gukesh presents Sandeep Singhal with a ring at WACA's celebration, Bengaluru 2025 | Photo: Eventive Communications

Watch the celebrations in Bengaluru:

R Vaishali

GM R Vaishali was one of WACA's first five fellows, and WestBridge sponsors her too. She became a Grandmaster in December 2023, India's 84th, and only the third Indian woman to earn the title after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.

In September 2025 she won the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss in Samarkand with 8/11, her second Women's Grand Swiss title in a row. That win qualified her for the Women's Candidates.

In April 2026 she won the Women's Candidates in Cyprus, beating Kateryna Lagno in the final round. She is the first Indian to win it.

GM R Vaishali with the Women's Candidates 2026 trophy, in her WACA blazer

GM R Vaishali with the Women's Candidates 2026 trophy, in her WACA blazer | Photo: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga / FIDE

Next, she will play Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Championship. After her Candidates win, Sandeep spoke to ChessBase India about backing her:

For WestBridge, it has been a family affair. Vaishali and her younger brother Praggnanandhaa were both among WACA's first five fellows, alongside Gukesh.

D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Sandeep Singhal, R Vaishali and her mother Nagalakshmi

Pranav and Ilamparthi

Two more players who are sponsored by WestBridge capital:

GM Pranav V: World Junior Champion 2025 (9/11) and World Junior Blitz Champion 2026.

Pranav V won the World Junior Championship 2025

Pranav V won the World Junior Championship 2025 | Photo: Mitar Djukanovic

GM Ilamparthi A R: India's 90th Grandmaster and a former World Under-14 Champion.

Ilamparthi A R in action

Ilamparthi A R in action | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Closing thoughts

WestBridge has since given chess a home in its own office too. In March 2026, ChessBase India visited the chess room WestBridge has set up at its Bengaluru office and spoke to Sandeep about it:

In 2020, the goal was to get a few young Indians into the world top 10. Today India has a World Champion in Gukesh, a Women's World Championship challenger in Vaishali, and a new group of players coming through.

Thank you, WestBridge, for everything you have done for Indian chess.