“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 (February 2026) at Premier Chess Academy, North America (Canada & USA)!
1. Sai Avinash Konjeti
“Sai Avinash Konjeti is a bright and talented 9-year-old boy who excels academically and consistently performs well in his studies. He has a sharp mind and especially enjoys playing chess, where he demonstrates excellent concentration, strategic thinking, and patience. He is also very interested in soccer and loves spending time practicing and improving his skills on the field. In addition to sports, he has a deep curiosity about space—planets, stars, rockets, and astronauts fascinate him, and he enjoys learning new facts about the universe. At home, he is kind and caring, especially toward his 4-year-old brother. He is friendly, protective, and always ready to help him. He also has a helpful nature and enjoys supporting others. He has shown great improvement in his chess skills after joining Premier Chess Academy, and we sincerely thank his teacher, Ms. Anisha Jain, for her guidance and support.”
Coach feedback on Sai Avinash:
“Sai is a very enthusiastic kid who is always eager to learn new things. He loves participating in matches and consistently experiments with creative moves on the chessboard. He excels at solving puzzles and quickly grasps new concepts. He applies the tactics taught in class with great determination. He is punctual and attentive, and he also enjoys interacting with other students in the class. I am truly impressed with his progress. Best wishes to him, keep it up, Sai!”
Few games of Sai Avinash:
https://lichess.org/KV783aL0/black#118
https://lichess.org/C4oB1vA2#17
https://lichess.org/eZXrse0c/black#30
2. Carter Patterson
“Carter is 14 years old and currently in grade 8 from Alberta, Canada. He has had a passion for chess ever since his first complimentary lesson with Premier Chess Academy on August 30, 2021. He decided to sign up as part of his year spent homeschooling and his passion has stayed strong all this time. Carter has since won the tournament held at his school in grade 6 and challenges anyone that will play him. He is always numerous moves ahead, and undefeated with all family members that are willing to play him. While he does win every time, he does give his opponents numerous opportunities to at least play a little longer with comments like, “are you sure you want to do that?” When not playing Chess, Carter keeps busy with his other activities of Football, Ukrainian Dance, Piano, Drums, and also has a passion for board games and playing cards with his 3 older siblings and parents.”
Coach feedback on Carter:
“Carter is a dedicated learner who exhibits immense passion for chess. He diligently absorbs every concept covered in class, striving for a deep and accurate understanding, and then applies those ideas consistently in his practice sessions and tournament games. Beyond his technical growth, Carter demonstrates excellent sportsmanship. He remains patient during challenging positions, maintains composure under pressure, and is always friendly and respectful toward his batchmates. His positive attitude contributes meaningfully to the learning environment. With his steadily flourishing understanding of the game and disciplined work ethic, Carter is emerging as a notable player to watch in the future. My best wishes are firmly with him. I strongly believe that with continued training, structured guidance, and encouragement, Carter will achieve significant milestones in his chess journey.”
Few games of Carter:
https://www.chess.com/game/live/165525010273?username=gandalf2012c
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164902787453?username=gandalf2012c&move=0
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164900982843?username=gandalf2012c
3. ANISH TALATAM
“Anish Talatam, age 9, began his chess journey with Premier Chess Academy under the guidance of Coach Karthik K. Over this Period, we have seen him truly enjoy the learning process and make significant progress in his game. We sincerely appreciate the dedication, guidance, and hard work of Coach Karthik and the entire team in nurturing his growth. Mr. Karthik is an inspiring chess teacher who makes every lesson enjoyable and insightful. For Anish, chess isn’t just about the board — it helps him understand everything better. We extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Chess Coach Mr. Karthik & Premier Chess Academy for their continued dedication, professionalism, and commitment to nurturing young minds.”
Coach feedback on ANISH:
“Anish is really performing better every day; I have seen him rectifying himself whenever we find any mistakes with his games. He keeps learning new things and memorizing them. He tries to practice in his available time. It clearly shows his love and passion towards the game. He is very focused in regular sessions & always tries to implement the concept in his own games. He is very active and a Regular Student of Chess Sessions, which is highly appreciable. I wish him very good luck for his Chess Career…!”
Few games of ANISH:
https://lichess.org/OYPcrO37/black
https://lichess.org/jWaxeQQI/white
https://lichess.org/ObCaUZuh/white
4. Purvi Mariyagu
“Purvi is an enthusiastic fourth grader who brings joy and energy wherever she goes. Always ready to help, she happily supports her classmates and welcomes new friends with a warm smile. Her kindness and positive attitude make her someone everyone loves to be around. After school, she enjoys playing tennis and practicing her serves and backhand. With her cheerful spirit and determination, she shines both in the classroom and on the court.”
Coach feedback on Purvi:
“Purvi is a quick learner and as always active in the class. She had shown a consistent performance & was very punctual in attending the classes. She’s very interested in learning new tactics and likes to solve puzzles and always comes up with different variations. I wish all the very best for her upcoming achievements in this chess journey.”
Few games of Purvi:
https://lichess.org/5hUP6AAi/black
https://lichess.org/8JXAWDwD/black
Selection Criteria – February 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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