What It’s Like Covering a 600+ Player FIDE Chess Tournament | Sports Photographer Delhi

When people think of sports photography, they often imagine fast-paced action—football tackles, basketball dunks, or cricket shots under stadium lights.

But my recent assignment as a sports photographer in Delhi challenged that perception entirely.

I had the opportunity to cover the Mary Cherian Memorial FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, hosted at Shri Ram College of Commerce—a tournament that brought together 600+ players, including international participants, grand masters, international masters and state champions

What followed was one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences of my journey in sports photography in India.

Getting the Assignment: A Turning Point in My Sports Photography Journey

The opportunity came through Jotish Joy, the organizer of the event. Having known him through a mutual connection, I was entrusted with documenting a tournament of this scale.

This wasn’t just another shoot.

It was my first time handling photography for a FIDE-rated chess tournament, and that too at such a massive scale.

Why Chess Photography Is Underrated (and Extremely Challenging)

At first glance, chess photography may seem straightforward.

No movement. No chaos. No split-second action.

But in reality, it’s one of the most mentally demanding forms of sports photography.

Here’s why:

• Every moment is subtle

• Emotions are internal, not expressive

• The environment is quiet and sensitive

• Players require minimal disturbance

Now combine that with:

• 9 rounds

• 25 minutes per round

• A rotating seating system based on the Swiss-system tournament

Players constantly change tables, opponents, and positions.

📌 Result: Capturing every participant becomes practically impossible.

My Strategy: A Tiered Approach to Sports Photography

To manage scale and still deliver meaningful coverage, I developed a tiered storytelling strategy—something I now consider essential for large-scale sports photography assignments in India.

1. Prioritizing Stories Over Volume

Instead of trying to photograph all 600+ players, I focused on:

• The youngest participants (as young as 6 years old)

• Senior players competing with decades of experience

• Twins who were playing

• Unique matchups (like children playing against much older opponents)

• International players representing countries like Ghana and the United States

This approach ensured that every image had narrative value, not just visual presence.

2. Capturing Details That Tell Bigger Stories

Sometimes, great photography lies in the smallest observations.

One moment that stood out:

• A young girl carrying a Stanley bottle nearly half her size

It instantly created a visual contrast—innocence meeting intensity.

These are the frames that elevate chess photography from documentation to storytelling.

The Biggest Challenge: Tracking the Right Players

One unexpected challenge was identifying players from the organizer’s academy.

There were:

• Not everyone was wearing uniforms

• No fixed seating

• Constant movement between rounds

My solution?

I used Chess-Results to:

• Search player names

• Find table numbers

• Track match pairings

This allowed me to systematically locate and photograph key participants, making my workflow far more efficient.

Technical Growth: Evolving as a Sports Photographer

This assignment also changed how I approached my camera.

For the first time, I consistently relied on:

• The exposure meter

• Precise adjustments to avoid blown highlights or underexposed frames

Indoor chess environments can be tricky:

• Mixed lighting

• Static compositions

• Limited angles

But this pushed me to:

• Improve framing

• Experiment with tighter compositions

• Capture expressions at the right moment

I also explored video alongside still photography, expanding my storytelling toolkit.

What This Tournament Taught Me About Sports Photography in India

This experience reinforced a few critical lessons:

• Not all sports are about speed—some are about silence and patience

• Planning is more important than gear

• Storytelling beats volume every time

• Observation is the most powerful skill a photographer can have

For anyone pursuing sports photography in Delhi or across India, events like these are a masterclass in discipline and awareness.

Final Thoughts: Beyond Just Chess Photography

This tournament wasn’t just another assignment.

It was a turning point.

It gave me:

• Confidence to handle large-scale events

• A deeper understanding of storytelling

• The ability to adapt in high-pressure environments

And most importantly—

📌 It showed me that even in the quietest rooms, the most powerful stories are waiting to be captured.