On May 14, 2025, Samay Raina continues to shine as one of India’s most loved comedians and YouTubers. He is a stand-up comedian, chess streamer, and content creator who has won millions of hearts. His journey from a small town in Jammu to becoming a national star is inspiring. This article tells the story of Samay Raina’s life in simple words. It covers his childhood, education, career, and achievements in detail.
Early Life And Family
Samay Raina was born on October 26, 1997, in Jammu, India. He grew up in a Kashmiri Pandit family. His father, Rajesh Raina, worked as a journalist for media like Doordarshan. His mother, Sweeti Raina, left her job to take care of Samay. The family faced tough times during the Kashmiri Pandit exodus. They moved from Jammu to Delhi and later settled in Hyderabad. These moves shaped Samay’s view of life. He learned to find humor in tough situations.
As a child, Samay was curious. He tried many things like music, poetry, and chess. He loved the rapper Eminem and wanted to be a musician. But he was not very good at music or poetry. He also played chess but made many mistakes. Later, he called himself the “Blunder Master” in chess. His family supported his dreams. They encouraged him to explore his interests.
Education and Early Interests
Samay went to Ramadevi Public School in Hyderabad for his early education. Later, he joined Hyderabad Public School. He was an average student. He liked having fun more than studying. After school, he moved to Pune for college. He studied printing engineering at Pune Vidhyarthi Griha’s College of Engineering and Technology. But he did not like engineering. He felt it was boring and a waste of time.
In college, Samay found his true passion. He started performing at open mic events. These were small shows where people tried comedy, music, or poetry. Samay tried playing the guitar and reading poems. But he was not good at them. Then he tried comedy. People laughed at his jokes. This made him happy. He decided to focus on comedy.
Samay Raina Age, Height, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Shows, Relationships, Wife, Father, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Samay Raina |
| Date of Birth | October 26, 1997 |
| Place of Birth | Jammu, India |
| Family Background | - Father: Rajesh Raina (Journalist, Doordarshan) - Mother: Sweeti Raina (Homemaker) - Kashmiri Pandit family, faced exodus |
| Early Life | - Grew up in Jammu, moved to Delhi, then Hyderabad - Tried music, poetry, chess - Called himself “Blunder Master” in chess |
| Education | - School: Ramadevi Public School & Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad - College: Printing Engineering, PVG College, Pune |
| Career Start | - Began comedy in 2016 at Pune open mics - Came second in open mic (Aug 27, 2017) - Moved to Mumbai in 2017 for comedy |
| Comedy Career | - Performed with Anirban Dasgupta & Abhishek Upmanyu - Won Comicstaan Season 2 (2019, with Aakash Gupta) - Known for dark humor |
| YouTube Career | - Started channel in 2013 - Gained popularity in 2020 (COVID-19) - Streams chess with comedians - Over 7 million subscribers |
| Chess Achievements | - Won Botez Bullet Invitational (2021, $4,000) - Organized Chess Super League (2021, ₹40 lakh prize pool) - Rapid rating: 1621 |
| Other Projects | - Started “India’s Got Latent” (June 2024) - Faced controversy in Feb 2025, removed videos |
| Charity Work | - Raised funds during COVID-19 - Donated ₹2 lakh to Bhumi NGO (2020) |
| Personal Life | - Lives in Mumbai, travels for shows - Rumored to date Tania Sachdev (unconfirmed) - Does not drink/smoke - Unmarried |
| Notable Appearances | - Appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati (Jan 2025) with comedians |
| Net Worth (2025) | ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore (YouTube, shows, sponsorships) |
| Why He’s Special | - Unique blend of comedy & chess - Connects with fans through humor & kindness - Inspiring journey from small town to national star |
| Recent Update | As of May 14, 2025, continues to create content and perform live shows |
Starting a Comedy Career
Samay began his comedy career in 2016. He performed at open mics in Pune. He worked hard to improve his jokes. On August 27, 2017, he competed in an open mic in Pune. He came second out of 100 people. This gave him confidence. He started performing regularly in Pune. Soon, he was opening for famous comedians like Anirban Dasgupta and Abhishek Upmanyu.
In 2017, Samay moved to Mumbai. Mumbai was the center of India’s comedy scene. He wanted to become a big comedian. He performed at many shows in Mumbai. His jokes were about everyday life, relationships, and Indian culture. People loved his dark humor and quick thinking. He became popular in Mumbai and other cities.
In 2019, Samay got a big break. His friend, comedian Aakash Gupta, told him to join a TV show called Comicstaan. It was a stand-up comedy contest on Amazon Prime Video. Samay worked hard and reached the finals. He won Comicstaan Season 2 with Aakash Gupta. This made him famous across India. People started watching his YouTube videos and live shows.
YouTube and Chess Streaming
Samay started his YouTube channel in 2013. At first, he posted comedy videos. But his channel grew slowly. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. The government stopped all outdoor events. Samay could not do live comedy shows. His friend, comedian Tanmay Bhat, gave him an idea. He told Samay to stream chess games on YouTube.
Samay loved chess from childhood. He was not a professional player, but he enjoyed it. He started streaming chess with other comedians. His streams were funny and entertaining. People loved watching him play and joke. His channel grew fast. He invited famous chess players like Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, and Judit Polgár to his streams. This made his channel even more popular.
Samay created a series called “Comedians On Board” (COB). In COB, comedians and celebrities played chess. The mix of chess and comedy was new. It made chess fun for everyone. Samay also organized online chess tournaments. One big event was the Chess Super League in 2021. It had top Indian and international players. The prize pool was ₹40 lakh (about $48,000). The event was streamed on Samay’s channel.
In 2021, Samay won the Botez Bullet Invitational. It was a chess tournament hosted by the Botez sisters on Chess.com. Samay was the only Indian streamer in the event. He won $4,000. As of December 2024, his rapid chess rating on Chess.com is 1621. His highest rating was 1942 in August 2023. Samay’s chess streams made him a hero in India’s chess community. Famous players like Vidit Gujrathi and Anish Giri praised him for making chess popular.
India’s Got Latent
In June 2024, Samay started a new show called India’s Got Latent. It was a comedy talent show. People showed their hidden talents, like singing or dancing. Samay and other comedians judged them. The show mixed comedy and performances. It was different from other talent shows. People loved its funny comments and unique style.
But the show faced problems. In February 2025, the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, filed a case against Samay and other YouTubers. They were accused of using bad language on the show. The case was filed under many laws, like the IT Act and the Cinematograph Act. The National Human Rights Commission also objected to some videos. Samay removed the videos to avoid more trouble. This controversy made him more careful about his content.
Charity Work
Samay is not just a comedian. He also helps people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he raised money through his YouTube streams. He helped waste pickers and flood victims in West Bengal and Assam. In 2020, he donated ₹2 lakh to an NGO called Bhumi. His fans love him for his kind heart.
Personal Life
Samay keeps his personal life private. There are rumors that he is dating chess player Tania Sachdev. But he has not confirmed this. He is not married. He does not drink alcohol or smoke. He lives in Mumbai and travels for shows. His parents are proud of his success. They support him in his career.
Achievements and Net Worth
Samay has many achievements. He won Comicstaan Season 2 in 2019. He won the Botez Bullet Invitational in 2021. He hosted the Chess Super League in 2021. He started India’s Got Latent in 2024. He also appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati in January 2025 with other comedians.
Samay’s net worth is between ₹5 crore and ₹7 crore in 2025. He earns money from YouTube, comedy shows, and sponsorships. His YouTube channel has over 7 million subscribers. His live shows are sold out in many cities.
Why Samay Is Special
Samay Raina is special because he is talented and hardworking. He makes people laugh with his jokes. He makes chess fun with his streams. He helps people with his charity work. His journey shows that anyone can achieve their dreams. He faced many challenges, like moving cities and leaving engineering. But he never gave up.
Samay’s humor is unique. He talks about real-life problems in a funny way. His chess streams are not just about winning. They are about having fun and learning. He connects with his fans through his videos. He listens to their feedback and improves.
Conclusion
Samay Raina is a star of Indian comedy and chess. Born in Jammu on October 26, 1997, he worked hard to achieve his dreams. From open mics in Pune to winning Comicstaan, he proved his talent. His YouTube channel made chess popular in India. His show, India’s Got Latent, showed his creativity. Despite controversies, he remains a favorite among fans. Samay’s story teaches us to follow our passion. With his humor and kindness, he will keep winning hearts for years to come.
