At Premier Chess Academy (PCA), our vision is to transform kids into the world of chess & support them along the transition. Each and every kid at PCA deserves a special appreciation but we have shortlisted (selection criteria below) the students. Friendly advice, “for student’s those who didn’t make it through – you will make it one day and for those who are the stars of the month – continue the practice as your bar goes up”.
Here we go to recognize the stars of the month (August 2026) at Premier Chess Academy, Asia Pacific (Australia, Singapore and New Zealand)!
1. Dhiya Prabhagar
” Dhiya is a kind, curious and enthusiastic 10-year-old who enjoys learning new things and challenging herself. She is a friendly and positive student who enjoys spending time with her classmates and always tries to be respectful and helpful to others. Dhiya takes a keen interest in her studies and is always curious to understand how things work. She particularly enjoys activities that challenge her thinking, and she loves playing chess both at school and at home. She enjoys participating in chess tournaments, where she gets an opportunity to challenge herself, learn from every game and improve her skills. Chess has helped Dhiya develop concentration, patience, logical thinking, problem-solving skills and confidence. She enjoys practicing and learning new strategies, and she is always excited to play against different opponents. Outside of chess, Dhiya enjoys being active and trying different activities. Her favorite activities include swimming, basketball and running. She enjoys learning new skills, challenging herself and being involved in different activities. Dhiya believes that being a good student is not only about achieving good results, but also about being kind to others, helping her friends, listening to her teachers, working hard and never giving up when something is difficult. Her curiosity, positive attitude and willingness to learn make her a well-rounded student. She is always excited to try new things and improve herself, and she would be very proud to be recognized as Student of the Month.”
Coach feedback on Dhiya:
” Dhiya has shown great dedication and enthusiasm towards her chess training throughout the month. She has been attentive during sessions, worked consistently on improving her understanding of the game, and shown a positive approach towards learning from her mistakes. Her confidence and overall approach to chess have improved nicely and it has been great to see her putting in sincere effort during each session. Her consistency, discipline, and willingness to learn have made her stand out this month. She has shown that regular practice and a positive mindset can lead to steady improvement. She truly deserves the Star Kid of August 2026 recognition, and I am very happy with her progress. Keep up the hard work, Dhiya, and continue learning and enjoying the game!”
Few games of Dhiya:
https://lichess.org/5GKTrCrH#47
https://lichess.org/d9tSecbZ/black#34
https://lichess.org/3HyZUoh9#35
2. Ivin mamman Vargheese
“Ivin joined Premier Chess Academy in October 2024, and it has been wonderful for us as parents to see how much he has grown and developed through his chess journey. What started as an interest in chess has gradually become an important part of his learning and personality. Over this period, we have noticed a significant improvement in his chess skills, concentration and confidence. He has also started participating in offline chess tournaments across New Zealand, which has given him valuable experience in handling competition, pressure and different playing styles. We are particularly proud that his hard work has helped him qualify for the Quarterfinals in the Under-11 category in August 2026.Beyond chess, we feel the biggest change has been in the way Ivin thinks. He has become more thoughtful before making decisions and has developed the habit of looking at different possibilities before choosing a solution. We can see the influence of chess in his everyday life as well. He is increasingly showing an ability to make plans, think ahead, solve problems creatively and come up with out-of-the-box ideas. These are skills that we believe will benefit him far beyond the chessboard. As parents, we also appreciate how chess is teaching him important life lessons—patience, discipline, perseverance, focus, sportsmanship and learning from mistakes. Winning makes him happy, but we are equally pleased to see him learning from games that don’t go his way and coming back with renewed determination. We would like to sincerely thank Premier Chess Academy and all the coaches for their guidance, encouragement and patience. Your efforts have played a significant role in Ivin’s progress, and we truly appreciate the positive environment you have created for children to learn and grow. This recognition means a lot to Ivin and to us as parents. We hope it motivates him to work harder, enjoy the game even more and continue growing both as a chess player and as a person. Congratulations to our STAR OF THE MONTH, Ivin! ⭐♟️We are very proud of you and excited to see where your chess journey takes you next!”
Coach feedback on Ivin:
“Ivin has been progressing really well in his chess journey, and I’m very happy with the improvement he has shown so far. He is able to understand and apply the chess concepts we discuss in class, and one of the qualities I appreciate most about him is his attitude toward learning. He is always eager to learn, play, and improve, and he never hesitates to take on a new challenge. Ivin is also very receptive to feedback. He accepts the feedback given during class positively and makes a genuine effort to apply it in his games. I have also noticed that he is becoming more patient during his games, taking more time to think and make better decisions rather than rushing his moves. Another thing I enjoy seeing is that Ivin is starting to come up with interesting and creative ideas during his games. This shows that he is developing his own understanding of the position and becoming a more independent thinker on the chessboard. With the same attitude, consistent practice, and continued hard work, I believe Ivin has the potential to become a very good chess player. I’m excited to continue watching his growth and development. Keep up the great work, Ivin! ♟️👏”
Few games of Ivin:
https://lichess.org/JH9PqyMm/black#0
https://lichess.org/Gj12MrNo/black
https://lichess.org/Ul9yGda3/black
Selection Criteria –August 2026:
- Regular in class and practice sessions.
- Displaying improvement in practices to reach top 3 positions.
- Puzzle solving and tactics findings in regular class.
- Generate quest in chess and regular in assignments.
- Overall – Passion is evident in class, practices, puzzle solving etc.
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