RB Ramesh appointed as Head Coach of Italian Men’s Chess Team until 2026

Indian Grandmaster RB Ramesh appointed as head coach of Italian men’s chess team

Indian Grandmaster RB Ramesh has been appointed as the head coach of the Italian men’s chess team by their national chess federation. The 48-year-old Dronacharya awardee will have the task of nurturing and guiding Italian players to improve the country’s performance at the next year’s Olympiad in Uzbekistan.

Italy finished 43rd in the Open section in the last Olympiad and currently does not have a player in the world’s top 100. Ramesh, who has previously mentored young Indian talent like R Praggnanandhaa, will bring his expertise and experience to help elevate the Italian team’s performance on the international stage.

Speaking about the differences in chess development between countries like India and Italy, Ramesh highlighted the lack of a conducive environment for young players in European countries like Italy. He mentioned that Italy’s top players are slightly older and that the country lacks a strong pool of talented young players compared to countries like India, China, and Uzbekistan.

Ramesh’s coaching abilities have been recognized in the past, as he was the coach of the Indian men’s national team that won a bronze medal in the 2014 Olympiad, marking India’s first team medal in the competition. He has also collaborated with the Romanian chess federation in the past, leading to their success at the European Youth Championships in 2023.

The Italian federation is currently building a facility for training, which is expected to be ready by September. Once completed, Ramesh will travel to Italy to conduct training sessions with the team. Despite facing challenges in his coaching endeavors in Romania due to political turmoil, Ramesh remains optimistic about resuming his coaching duties once the situation stabilizes.

With Ramesh at the helm, the Italian men’s chess team is looking to make significant strides in their performance and compete at the highest level in international competitions. Stay tuned for updates on Ramesh’s coaching journey and the progress of the Italian team as they prepare for the upcoming Olympiad in 2026.