Our Coaches

Sham R is a FIDE-rated Indian chess professional and coach with a classical rating of 2054, a rapid rating of 2136, and a blitz rating of 2077, bringing exceptional tournament-tested experience to our academy. A proven champion on both the national and international stages, his career highlights include a podium finish representing India at the World Amateur Chess Championship, winning the 2nd Dr. KCG Verghese Memorial Rating Open, and securing a near-perfect 9.5/10 victory at the Mumbai Mayor’s Cup. Specialising in deep positional understanding, sharp calculation, and opening systems like the Giuoco Piano, Coach Sham focuses on transforming aspiring students into competitive players by building dynamic tactical skills and a strong tournament mindset.

Rohith Krishna S is an Indian chess Grandmaster and engineering student from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, widely recognized as one of the country's rising intellectual and athletic talents. In August 2025, he made headlines globally by becoming India's 89th Grandmaster (GM). He achieved the elite title at just 19 years old after completing all three rigorous GM norms within a remarkably brief six-month window.

R.R. Laxman is India’s 20th International Chess Grandmaster and one of the nation's most celebrated speed-chess specialists. Widely recognized in the global chess community as the "Blitz King," GM Laxman combines over two decades of elite competitive experience with a deep passion for mentoring the next generation of chess prodigies. His unique training philosophy emphasizes tactical sharp-sightedness, cognitive speed, and mental conditioning.

IM Md Imran is a professional chess athlete and one of India’s most elite young International Masters (IM). Holding a peak FIDE rating of 2503, Imran brings a wealth of world-class competitive experience directly to the classroom. He is globally celebrated for his tactical sharpness and mental resilience, famously scoring back-to-back Grandmaster (GM) norms in Europe under high-pressure conditions.

Srihari L. R. is an International Master (IM) and the first-ever titled player from Puducherry. Trained by Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M. and possessing elite international experience—including silver medals at the Asian Juniors Rapid Championship and the Paracin Open—Srihari specializes in advanced tactical calculation, opening preparation, and endgame mastery. As a coach, he translates high-level grandmaster-infused training into structured, actionable lessons to help ambitious students sharpen their mental resilience and elevate their competitive ratings.

Hari Madhavan N B is an International Master (IM) from Tamil Nadu, India, with a peak FIDE rating of 2425. Known for his tactical precision and dominant performances in rapid and blitz formats, Hari has claimed victories in numerous national and international championships, including the 2026 Little England FIDE Blitz. Combining a rigorous engineering background with elite-level competitive experience, he specializes in teaching dynamic positional play, opening preparation, and endgame mastery to help students elevate their tactical awareness and tournament performance.

Sanket Chakravarty is an International Master (IM) and professional chess coach with a peak FIDE rating of 2411. Known for his rapid ascent to the IM title and notable victories over heavyweights like GM Levan Pantsulaia and GM Boris Savchenko, Sanket combines elite competitive experience with a highly analytical background in Computer Science and Engineering from Jadavpur University. His coaching philosophy shifts the focus away from dry engine memorization, teaching students how to master deep positional concepts, practical decision-making, and structural chess strategy.

International Master Avinash Ramesh is an elite chess coach and active international competitor with a peak FIDE rating of 2424. Known for his legendary breakthrough season where he climbed 500 Elo points in just one year, Avinash understands exactly what it takes to achieve rapid, tangible improvement. The 2024 Chambery International Open champion specializes in modern opening theory, practical endgame strategies, and personalized training regimens tailored to help students raise their ratings and win tournaments.

International Master Ajay Karthikeyan (FIDE 2355) is an active tournament player and Grandmaster candidate specializing in data-driven chess coaching. He blends elite engine analysis with practical competitive strategies to help players of all levels systematically raise their ratings.

International Master Senthil Maran K is an elite professional chess player and coach dedicated to helping students unlock their strategic potential. With over a decade of competitive experience, Senthil achieved his FIDE International Master title in 2024 and has consistently defeated Grandmasters on the global stage. Trained under the legendary GM Vishnu Prasanna (coach to some of India’s top chess prodigies), Senthil combines world-class opening preparation with actionable tactical training. Whether you want to master positional play, sharpen your endgame, or break through a rating plateau, his personalized coaching turns ambitious players into tournament champions.

Dinesh Rajan M is a FIDE Master (FM) and one of India's most resilient chess talents. Achieving an elite peak FIDE rating of 2349, Dinesh has captured multiple international titles, including championships at the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival (2023 and 2024) and the Aix-en-Provence Dole Trophy in France. A master of self-directed training, he specializes in sharp opening systems and precise tactical calculation. Dinesh brings a deep understanding of independent game study and competitive psychology to aspiring players.

FM Ayushh Ravikumar is an international chess player and a FIDE Master from India with a peak career rating of 2319. Known for his exceptional tactical calculation and strategic depth, Ayushh has proven his strength on the global stage by defeating elite world-class Grandmasters, including former World Cup champion Levon Aronian. Specializing in highly sophisticated opening structures like the Nimzo-Larsen Attack and the King's Indian Attack, he offers students a premier blueprint for building a resilient, versatile game. Ayushh combines his high-level competitive experience with structured instruction to help aspiring chess players systematically elevate their ratings and master modern chess theory.

Arjun C Krishnamachari is an active, internationally competitive FIDE-rated chess player from India with a peak rating of over 2200. A proven competitor on both the domestic and international stages, Arjun's career highlights include winning the Open Category Championship at the 2nd Tamil Nadu State Level Chess Tournament and representing India in prestigious global events like the Open Chess Menorca and the Ljubljana Chess Festival.

Hiren K G is an accomplished Indian competitive chess player from Tamil Nadu with a peak FIDE rating of 2070 and extensive experience competing at the national level. Born in 2004, Hiren has established himself as a formidable talent in the Indian chess circuit, regularly representing his state and federation in high-profile tournaments.