Praveen Mahadeo Thipsay (born 12 August 1959) is an Indian chess player, who, in 1997, became the sixth individual from India to receive the title of International Grandmaster, which is the highest bestowed by Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the international chess federation. Thipsay was awarded the Padma Shri in 1985 for his contribution to chess.
Thipsay was born in Mumbai and learned chess at an early age. He first gained national recognition in 1976, when he won the National Junior Chess Championship. After this early success, he went on to secure a string of victories in the years that followed, winning the national senior championship seven times between 1980 and 2000.
Thipsay has also served the game in various administrative capacities, which includes being a member of the central council of All India Chess Federation (AICF) for several terms, as well as its vice president. He was conferred the title of ‘International Arbiter’ by FIDE in 2018, empowering him to officiate at the highest level of international chess.
Married to Bhagyashree Thipsay, a Woman International Master, Thipsay continues to work towards popularising chess in India and globally.