India, March 18 -- Indian Grandmaster RB Ramesh has been appointed head coach of the Italian men's team by their national chess federation, with a contract that will run until the next Olympiad in 2026. Mentor to R Praggnanandhaa, the 48-year old Dronacharya awardee will have the job of nurturing and guiding Italian players and improving the country's showing at next year's Olympiad set to take place in Uzbekistan. Italy finished 43rd in the Open section in the last Olympiad and doesn't have a player in the world's top 100.

Indian chess's success trajectory has, in recent years, caught the world's attention and curiosity with a battery of young players leading the charge. Both the reigning world champion and junior world champion are Ind...