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 (January 2026) at Premier Chess Academy, Europe!
1. Prarak Mehrotra
”Prarak turns 11 in a few days’ time, and he is a grade 6 student and resides in London. He likes to spend his time playing chess with his elder brother and spending time with his family and friends. He is a kind and amiable boy who loves to learn new things related to computers. Over a couple of months, Prarak has grown from being a novice to a chess enthusiast. Thanks to his Ganguly sir and PCA academy.”
Coach feedback on Prarak:
”Prarak is a very enthusiastic kid. He loves to learn chess. I can see his improvement with his strong mindset. He follows the instructions and tries to implement them in games. I wish him a very bright future ahead.”
Few games of Prarak:
2. Karthik
” Karthik is a cheerful and curious 14-year-old who loves to learn. Besides chess, he loves to play video games and has a keen bent towards coding and AI. He is part of a ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ club at school. He took part in various chess competitions under his PCA coach’s guidance and has improved in his focus and strategies.”
Coach feedback on Karthik:
” 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 his 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 Karthik:
https://lichess.org/bWlHmaJX/white
https://lichess.org/SYzk59Fg/white
https://lichess.org/BZ1vRwkw/white
3. Nilan Kasirajan
” Nilan Kasirajan is 7 years old, doing year 3 in London. He is a talented pianist, and chess is his newfound interest. He has been learning chess from Premier Chess academy for four months and has made strides of improvement in his chess matches. Nilan always looks forward to his chess classes. A huge thanks to coach Aniket for his excellent sessions and for helping Nilan improve his game.”
Coach feedback on Nilan:
” Very proud of your hard work and discipline Nilan. You follow instructions well and always give your best in every session.”
Few games of Nilan:
https://lichess.org/PfclbRBP/black
https://lichess.org/fjhYjx9T/black
4. Haveesh nag Maddimsetty
”Haveesh is a 12‑year‑old and Year 7 student in Maidstone Grammar school. He is a keen guitarist, and his recent love for rugby and passion for swimming has added excitement to his routine. He began his journey with Premier Chess Academy, where he is thoroughly enjoying both the classes and the competitions. A special thanks goes to his coach, Harshraj , for the outstanding guidance and support.”
Coach feedback on Haveesh:
”Haveesh has shown impressive focus and steady progress in his chess journey. He listens carefully, learns from his mistakes, and applies new ideas thoughtfully in every game. His logical thinking and calm approach under pressure highlight his growing maturity as a chess player.Keep going, Haveesh ! Your consistency, curiosity, and dedication are truly commendable — you’re building a strong foundation for great success ahead! ♟.”
Few games of Haveesh:
https://lichess.org/W30JaWr5/black
5. Lavesh
” Lavesh is a smart, kind and fun living kid who just turned 10 years old and is residing in Sweden. He started his chess journey at the age of 6 and has been showing keen interest since then. He also encourages his friends to learn and play chess. Thanks to his coach Saurabh who has been constantly motivating him to reach greater heights. Outside of chess, Lavesh has a mathematical mindset and is very fond of numbers, loves to swim, skate and play video games.”
Coach feedback on Lavesh:
”Lavesh is a very good student; he always motivates other students to think and solve puzzles. He is very good at calculation in the middle game. The best part about Lavesh is that he never misses any session. I am proud of you, Lavesh. All the best for the future dear.”
Few games of Lavesh:
https://lichess.org/K5GAKoWE/black
https://lichess.org/9tG2ILXT/black
6. Adhrith Srikkant
” Adhrith has been passionate about chess since he was 5 years old. He is currently 10 with his coach Soumyajit’s guidance he is improving his skills and growing to be a very skilled chess player. He is also passionate about building Legos, playing football, badminton, and watching cartoons. He’s always on the move and eager to explore things. He is fun to be with and loves to make new friends with similar ideologies!! We are very proud of how he is becoming on and off the chessboard.”
Coach feedback on Adhrith:
” Adhrith is really performing better and 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. I wish him very good luck for his Chess Career…!”
Few games of Adhrith:
https://lichess.org/FZoBToiS/black
7. Elias
” Elias is 9 years old and lives in Zurich, Switzerland. He has been playing chess since he was 5 years old. Elias enjoys the competitive and logical aspects of the game and playing chess has trained his attention span. Other than chess, Elias is an avid skier, hiker, soccer player, fisherman, and he plays the guitar. We found Premier Chess Academy completely by luck in 2024, and we have been so impressed by the quality of coaching. Coach Utkarsh is kind, funny and encouraging and Elias always looks forward to his lessons. Beyond progression- Coach has helped Elias nurture a love of the game. We always ask Elias at the start of each semester what hobbies he wants to keep or drop. And he always says, “I’m keeping chess!”. Thank you, Coach and the team, for helping nurture this love of chess in the kids.”
Coach feedback on Elias:
” Elias is a brilliant kid. He is very hardworking and never misses any of his classes. At such a young age his attitude towards learning new things is just commendable. He is doing very well and is a quick learner. The way he solves the puzzles and gives quick answers that are superb. This is just the beginning and at this point, such type of quality, responding to puzzles and various aspects shows that he will do much better in the future. I feel privileged to have Elias as my student. My best wishes are with him for success in his near future.”
Few games of Elias:
https://lichess.org/wIbUJp2s/black
Selection Criteria – January 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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