Roy Saptarshi is an Indian chess player who received his International Master title in 1997. Born on November 4, 1969 in Kolkata, he is the first Indian to hold the FIDE Senior Trainer title, awarded to him in 2013. He is also a FIDE International Organizer. Saptarshi has attained several achievements in chess, both nationally and internationally. He won the Indian National Junior Chess Championship in 1990 and the Indian National Chess Championship in 1994 and 1997. In terms of international accomplishments, he won the Allahabad International Open Chess Tournament twice, in 1991 and 1996.
Apart from his playing career, Roy Saptarshi has contributed significantly to chess coaching and training. He has been training chess players in India and abroad, notably at the Chess Informant in Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 to 2005, where he was involved in the development of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO). He has also worked as a Chess Trainer for the Qatar Chess Federation.
In 2017, Roy Saptarshi was appointed by the President of India as Officer on Special Duty (Sports) in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. He has been the Arbiter for the Chess World Cup in 2017 and 2019. His writing contributions include "Chess Middle Game: Planning and Tactics", "Winning Chess Psychology" and "Practical Chess Endings for the Practical Player", which have been well received among chess enthusiasts and learners around the world.