“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 (October 2024) at Premier Chess Academy, North America (Canada & USA)!
1. Vihaan Patil
“Vihaan is seven years old and studying in second grade and lives in Omaha, NE. He joined PCA a year back as an absolute beginner and since then he has improved his game a lot under the guidance of coach Mr. Hemant. Apart from chess, he loves swimming and playing soccer. He is very much interested in building different and complex Lego sets. Thanks to Mr. Hemant’s expert coaching, he is quickly advancing in the world of chess, demonstrating both talent and a love for the game.”
Coach feedback on Vihaan:
“Vihaan is an enthusiastic, interactive and kind kid. He is very logical in puzzle solving sessions and always calm & tries his best. I was really impressed with the kid ‘s performance. Really happy to have a student Like Vihaan wishing the kid all the best.”
Few games of Vihaan:
https://lichess.org/FCttYtgr/black
https://lichess.org/Yhph7TsA/black
2. SIDDHARTH GOKULAKRISHNA
“Siddharth is a 3rd grader who developed an interest in chess over past summer holidays. He started playing the game with his dad at home. He actively engages in chess study from his classes with premier academy, utilizes online platforms, chess books, and seeks guidance from his wonderful teacher Mr. Ashish to expand his knowledge. He has consistently improved his chess rating, demonstrating steady progress and dedication to the game. He has a natural passion for the game, eagerly studying tactics and solving chess puzzles. Other than chess, he enjoys reading, watching Pokémon on tv and playing with his brother.”
Coach feedback on SIDDHARTH:
“From the beginning, it was clear that he had a passion for the game. His initial curiosity and enthusiasm have now transformed into a deep understanding of chess strategies and tactics. He has shown remarkable improvement in several key areas like – following opening fundamentals, and ability to assess the position, spotting the tactics, Composure & Patience. His progress is a testament to her hard work, perseverance, and passion for the game. Keep up the excellent work. Remember, every game is an opportunity to learn and grow. I’m excited to see how far he will go with chess, and I’m here to support him every step of the way. Keep pushing your limits, and most importantly, keep enjoying the game!”
Few games of SIDDHARTH:
https://lichess.org/ilVbLJ1G/black
https://lichess.org/xmcfBiBW#59
3. Rohan Vichare
“Rohan is a 7-year-old second grader from Illinois. His journey with Premier Chess Academy started over a year ago, and since then, his passion for the game has only grown. Rohan loves understanding new strategies and outwitting his opponents. Chess has quickly become one of his favorite activities. In addition to chess, Rohan enjoys playing many different sports, especially soccer. He looks forward to his chess lessons every week. The fun and supportive environment that Coach Aniket creates makes every lesson an exciting experience. In addition to lessons, Rohan is excited about participating in chess tournaments and playing games on Lichess, where he can practice his moves and strategies whenever he gets the chance. We are very proud of the progress Rohan has made so far.”
Coach feedback on Rohan:
“Rohan is an incredibly enthusiastic child with a genuine passion for learning. He enjoys playing matches and consistently seeks to explore new strategies on the chessboard. His aptitude for puzzles showcases his quick grasp of concepts, and he actively applies the tactics we’ve discussed in class. I’m truly pleased with his progress. Wishing him continued success—keep up the great work, Rohan!”
Few games of Rohan:
https://lichess.org/n8tCp8AA/black
4. Ritika Thalluri
“Ritika, a 7-year-old second-grader from Bloomington IN, has been learning chess for eight months. She enjoys playing on Lichess, participating in tournaments, and playing with her parents. Ritika’s growth is attributed to Sriram’s coaching, thanks to his teaching style, support, and patience. Additionally, she enjoys soccer, swimming, and gymnastics.”
Coach feedback on Ritika:
“Ritika is a very enthusiastic Kid and always keen to learn new things. She loves to play matches and always tries to do something new on the chess board. She is good at puzzles as well and grasps topics quickly. She always tries to use tactics that are taught in the class. I am very happy with her progress. Best Wishes for her. Keep it up Ritika!”
Few games of Ritika:
https://lichess.org/49Qg2GvD/black#0
https://lichess.org/zI29J3TT#0
https://lichess.org/YF4bXZVA#0
5. Kumar Velan Srihari
“Kumar Velan is 8 years old third grader from Los Angeles, CA. We started chess with PCA to engage him for summer holidays. Later, he started excelling in chess classes with strategic thinking and ability to analyze moves with focus. He loves competing in tournaments. I’m happy to say that playing chess is a more enriching alternative to traditional screen time.”
Coach feedback on Kumar Velan:
“Kumara was very active in the class. He’s clever, smart, intelligent and a quick learner. He’s always hungry to solve the hardest puzzles. He loves to compete in tournaments. He’s very punctual throughout his academic career & has shown a brilliant performance. I wish him all the best and great success in his upcoming tournaments.”
Few games of Kumar Velan:
https://lichess.org/G2jJMhfS/white
https://lichess.org/T0eUMNcB/black
https://lichess.org/oc0MtgcK/white
6. GUHAN SAKTHIMANI
“Guhan Sakthimani is an 8-year-old boy from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He is in 3rd Grade. He is a sports person; he loves all kinds of sports and is very active. He is skilled in Soccer-he is Team Captain in Eden prairie soccer club for his team in U9. He also learns Martial arts (kung fu) and he is good at all kinds of sports. He plays badminton/Snooker with his parents and is really good at it. He loves fishing. He does fish on weekends. He is zoophilous. He is very enthusiastic in learning new skills and always tries to put his best foot forward. He is a quick learner, hardworking and his perseverance to master his skills is amazing. He is generous, compassionate and friendly. He is a great team player as well. Since he started the PCA chess club, he has shown great effort in playing and practicing chess – Thanks to PCA and all his coaches for nurturing and helping him improve. We are so proud of him. We look forward to continuing this journey.”
Coach feedback on GUHAN:
“Guhan is very talented and is very good at solving chess puzzles. He is a very regular kid, never misses classes or practice sessions. His performance in this month is very good, he has shown very good improvement in his performance. He has increased his lichess rating and is showing constant improvement in learning which really makes him a worthy star of this month. Hope he continues to perform well and achieve his dreams in the long run. Wishing him a successful life.”
Few games of GUHAN:
https://lichess.org/t7blofcf/black
7. Garv Nayyar
“Garv, a 9-year-old fourth grader, was introduced to chess through his school chess club in the fall of 2023. Passionate about both basketball and chess, Garv recently joined chess academy, where his enjoyment of the game has grown. Under the mentorship of Coach Keshav, his interest in chess has deepened, and he now delights in studying complex moves and learning new strategies. A heartfelt thank you to Coach Keshav for nurturing his love for the game.”
Coach feedback on Garv:
“I am very happy with Garv as he is doing very well in chess. He is always ready to learn new things in game and Garv’s main strength is opening. He calculates variations of chess combinations very well. also asks a lot of chess questions in class which I like most. Congrats for your star of the month dear and I wish you a very all the best for all success. Keep it up.”
Few games of Garv:
https://lichess.org/u8UzQ0wE/black
https://lichess.org/aiM7MJcr/black
https://lichess.org/gCl5LJ5O/black
8. Avyukth Akkapelli
“Avyukth is an energetic 8-year-old who has developed a passion for chess over the past year. He loves challenging his friends in the neighborhood and often invites his parents to play whenever he gets the chance. Alongside his chess journey, Avi is a well-rounded kid; he practices the violin, enjoys dancing, and excels in math. His outgoing personality and diverse interests make him a joyful presence in any activity he engages in!”
Coach feedback on Avyukth:
“Avyukth is an energetic kid. He is very punctual and curious that you can give him any topic like solving puzzles, learning new tactics, playing games his interest never reduces. He never hesitates to ask questions, which is very good! He’s been very consistent in his progress. I wish him a long successful journey. God bless him.”
Few games of Avyukth:
https://lichess.org/JwQGdCRD/black
https://lichess.org/8qsKW6og/black
9. Aditya Sai Vadlamudi
“Aditya Sai. Vadlamudi, is an 8th grade student who was introduced to chess 4 months ago. He has a deep passion for latest Technology & STEM projects, Sports Basketball, Taekwondo, Tennis and Chess. Since joining Premier Chess Academy, Aditya made remarkable progress by learning advanced strategies and techniques that have significantly enhanced his gameplay. His passion drives him to learn, explore & participate in various tournaments, where he thrives on the challenges and testing his skills. He uses the techniques and concepts learnt from his class teacher Mr. Venkat Ramana. After every Tournament Mr. Venkat Ramana is constantly helping kids to sharpen their Chess Skills. Thanks to him for his amazing teaching skills. Appreciate his patience in making them “Star Kids”.I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Premier Chess Academy Team and his class teacher Mr. Venkat Ramana, who has played a significant role. Warmest congratulations to Aditya Sai. Vadlamudi for being selected as a “Star kid” of the month. Wishing you many more Success to achieve in chess as well as in future endeavors.”
Coach feedback on Aditya:
“Aditya is an enthusiastic, interactive, and active kid. He has shown good signs of improvement in his gameplay in the last few weeks. Aditya participates regularly in practice sessions and weekly tournaments. He learns everything with dedication. He is doing great, and I hope he will do great in the future. I wish him all the success and good wishes for her bright future.”
Few games of Aditya:
https://lichess.org/UDkfZgDj/black
10.Vivaan Biswal
“Vivaan Biswal is a 10-year-old boy and in 5th grade. Vivaan has truly found a passion for chess. He loves to explore new things. Now his favourite activities are playing chess, Cricket and Swimming. He is a joy to be around with his smiling face and positive energy. Since joining chess, Vivaan has made impressive progress. His strategic thinking has sharpened. It’s exciting to see how much he’s grown and developed his skills in such a short time. A big shout out to Ms. Prakrati Manodhya for the amazing guidance and support! We are so grateful for the Premier Chess Academy and its incredible team!!!”
Coach feedback on Vivaan:
“Vivaan is an amazing kid, He joined Chess class four months ago where he was new to the game and now, I can see a drastic change in him, he is focused, he works very hard to progress. He literally plays chess every day. He has achieved this only because of his hard work and dedication. Wishing him all the very best for his future endeavors”
Few games of Vivaan:
https://lichess.org/tyOGZWYC/black
https://lichess.org/ddoY9rX6/black
https://lichess.org/VzAwcyrV/black
11.Tejas Kunala
“Tejas Kunala is a 9-year-old fourth grader living in New Jersey. Tejas shows a lot of interest in playing chess and participating in tournaments across New Jersey. Thank you, Premier chess academy for their valuable coaching and encouragement because of which Tejas continues to develop and grow skills in the game.”
Coach feedback on Tejas:
“Tejas is a young talented player. He’s very good at solving puzzles and has shown tremendous improvement in the last few months in his play. He has defeated players much higher rated than him as well, I wish him the best for his future.”
Few games of Tejas:
TEJASkunala vs dturkar: Englund Gambit: Main Line • lichess.org
DimaRoblox vs TEJASkunala: Queen’s Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation • lichess.org
TEJASkunala vs Mathisgreat: Dutch Defense • lichess.org
12.Ananya Kasetti
“Ananya is a 9-year-old studying 4th grade, currently living in Northville Michigan. She is a kind, smart and very energetic kid. Soon after she started learning chess, she gained a lot of interest in practicing puzzles and playing games whenever she found some free time. Besides chess she loves drawing, swimming, biking, playing with her little brother and friends. In her free time, she likes to do painting, reading books, and watching TV with family. Many thanks to her coach Prajwal for his excellent coaching in both puzzle and games sessions.”
Coach feedback on Ananya:
“Anaya has improved a lot in the last few months and showing improvement at such a small age is very commendable. My best wishes are with Ananya to do excellent in her life.”
Few games of Ananya:
https://lichess.org/5tYWfINV/black
https://lichess.org/rWKvupvn/black
13. Danish Ahmed
“Danish is an awesome 8-year-old who’s just started 3rd grade. He’s got a knack for math, which is why we got him into chess at the Premier Chess Academy. He’s really enjoying it and getting better every day. When he’s not solving math problems or playing chess, Danish loves diving into a good book. He’s a big reader and always has a book in hand. He also loves hanging out and playing with his friends – he’s got a great group of buddies. Danish is quite the swimmer too! He’s really good in the pool and loves swimming. Plus, he’s learning kickboxing, which is super cool and helps him stay active and strong. All in all, Danish is a fun, smart, and active kid with a lot of interests. We’re excited to see all the amazing things he’ll do in the future.”
Coach feedback on Danish:
“Danish is always excited to learn new things. He likes to explore a lot & check what are all the other possible good moves. He tries to learn from his mistakes and makes sure not to repeat them. Being a coach I’m very happy to have Danish as my student and my best wishes will always follow his path.”
Few games of Danish:
https://lichess.org/DbO3idz5#18
https://lichess.org/cLALjEam/black#4
14.Lohith Sharan
“Lives in Herndon, Virginia. He is 8 years old & studies 3rd grade. His hobbies are playing chess & reading books. He likes outdoor activities & is a bit of an adventurer. In his free time, he builds lego blocks & showcases his creativity. Lohith recently started attending in-person tournaments and is improving day by day due to constant practice & through his coach sessions. Lohith has been with PCA since he was 5yrs old. His present coach’s name is Om Mishra who is very understanding & helps Lohith constantly to improve his chess skills.”
Coach feedback on Lohith:
“Lohith is a very attentive kid , always listen to me whatever I instruct to him and guide him.Working with him and his game strategy by developing practical game sense made a difference in his play style . He is improving day by day and I am proud of him for his achievements he brings to me inside PCA and outside PCA too. Keeping going all the best!.”
Few games of Lohith:
https://lichess.org/WEZ51B5x/black
https://lichess.org/9RBpoDLa/black
15. Sai Samarth
“Sai is a bright and joyful 9-year-old with a passion for chess and a knack for building incredible structures with Legos. He loves solving math puzzles and approaches challenges with curiosity and determination. His kindness and cheerful demeanor make him a joy to be around, always spreading positivity to those around him.”
Coach feedback on
“Sai is a smart and intelligent kid. He is very passionate and enjoys chess. He is very regular to the sessions. He is much focused and a quick learner as well. He has good puzzle solving and tactical skills. His progress has been very good. He is doing awesome, and I hope will do great in future.”
Few games of
https://lichess.org/LiRWCNkt#31
https://lichess.org/YNLGahNt#25
https://lichess.org/ajJfY952/black#24
16.Jagdev Dhanav Kumar Selvakumar
“Jagdev is a 7th grader in Concord NC, and has three goals; get in the NBA, be a neurosurgeon,and to be the next chess world-champion! He is a top student in all of his classes and is verygifted. His interest for chess began when he was in 5th grade. But sadly, he wasn’t very good,and he quit. But this year, he started watching chess videos, playing with high ELO players, anddoing puzzles every day. He soon got his chess ELO to 1200, and this time, he did not feel likequitting. He saw how grandmasters play, and also watched a lot of Gotham Chess. After that, he heard of the current chess world-champion, Magnus Carlsen, and his skills. He decided to be like him, and be a chess grandmaster. Jagdev’s parents then enrolled him into PCA Chess Academy, where he honed his chess skills, competed in tournaments, and did a lot of puzzles with his coach, Prabhat Kumar! Very soon, he hit his first milestone, getting first place in his entire team, in a huge PCA Academy chess tournament. He then hit his second big milestone, getting into the PCA Academy Hall of fame!”
Coach feedback on Jagdev:
“Jagdev Dhanav Kumar Selvakumar’s improvement in chess has been remarkable. From our initial sessions, it was clear that he possesses a strong foundation, but his dedication to enhancing his skills has truly stood out. Jagdev has shown significant progress in his strategic thinking and game analysis. He has become more adept at anticipating his opponent’s moves and adjusting his strategies accordingly.. What impresses me most is his commitment to learning. Jagdev actively engages with the material, asks insightful questions, and applies new concepts in practice games. This eagerness to improve, combined with his natural talent, has led to noticeable gains in his performance. I am excited to see where this journey takes him next. With his dedication and continued effort, there’s no doubt that Jagdev will achieve even greater heights in his chess endeavors!”
Few games of Jagdev:
https://lichess.org/OtSAu0wL/black
Selection Criteria –October 2024:
- 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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