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 advise, “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 (May 2024) at Premier Chess Academy, North America (Canada & USA)!
1. Arnav Talari
” We are overjoyed to celebrate Arnav Talari, affectionately known as Arnie at home, as this month’s inductee into the Player of the Month Hall of Fame in chess. At just ten years old, Arnav, hailing from the sunny state of Florida, exemplifies the spirit of dedication, passion, and multifaceted talent that we cherish.
Arnav journey into the world of chess began at the tender age of six, and since then, his love for the game has blossomed into a full-fledged passion. He is not just a player but a true student of the game, spending countless hours studying grandmaster games, analyzing positions, and Developing strategies. His skills have been shaping well at Premier chess academy.
Yet, Arnav life is a rich tapestry of diverse interests that extend far beyond the chessboard. His musical talents are nothing short of extraordinary. A budding pianist and violinist, Arnie fills our Home with the soothing sounds of classical music and the lively rhythms of contemporary Pieces.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Arnav is also a dedicated martial artist. He trains diligently in martial arts, embracing the values of discipline, respect, and perseverance. This physical activity not only keeps him fit but also instills in him a sense of focus and mental Toughness that undoubtedly complements his chess endeavors. Whether he’s practicing katas Or sparring, Arnav commitment to martial arts is a testament to his well-rounded character with Brown III belt.
Arnav’s artistic talents shine through in his love for painting. Dinosaurs, Godzilla, Nature are his favorite subjects. Beyond his individual pursuits, Arnie is a wonderful helper at home. Whether It’s setting the table, helping with chores, or lending a hand with his younger siblings, Arnav approaches every task with a cheerful attitude and a willingness to contribute. His caring nature and sense of responsibility make him a joy to have around, and his kindness extends to Everyone he meets.
Arnie’s achievements in chess and his myriads of talents and interests paint a picture of a truly exceptional individual. His passion for learning, dedication to his hobbies, and kind-hearted nature make him a role model for his peers and a source of pride for our family. We are incredibly proud of all that Arnie has accomplished and look forward to watching him continue to grow and excel in all his endeavors.
Arnav is very fond of his Chess teacher/coach Mr. Harsh Raj. We sincerely thank him for teaching the basics, advising him before and after his games online and on Lichess. He looks forward for every weekend to join chess class and have healthy competition. We appreciate all the hard work, encouragement, guidance our child is receiving from him.”
Coach feedback on Arnav:
“Arnav is a very Enthusiastic and confident kid. If he makes any mistakes he will try to correct them next time. He has improved a lot in recent months and all credit goes to the practice and concentration that he shows in class. Going forward If his dedication is the same he is going to achieve big. I wish him all the success and good wishes for his bright future.”
Few games of Arnav:
https://lichess.org/0FkmfBaL/black#0
https://lichess.org/AmAVuRvt#0
https://lichess.org/g9TDJ84m#0
2. Ashvath Gurusankar
“Ashvath is an enthusiastic fourth grader from Massachusetts with a diverse set of interests that include playing chess, football, and reading books. He joined the class quite recently and developed a strong passion towards chess through help and motivation received from his Coach Shahid. With his strong passion, Ashvath enjoys the strategic and intellectual challenges of the game. His analytical approach and problem-solving abilities shine through in his chess strategies, making him an impressive player on the board.
In addition to his love for chess, Ashvath enjoys playing football with his classmates, cycling around his neighborhood trails and swimming. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Ashvath plays the clarinet, adding a musical dimension to his vibrant personality. His dedication to both sports and music makes him a well-rounded and dynamic young student.
We extend our sincere gratitude to both coach Shahid and the Premier Chess Academy for constant guidance and unwavering support during the classes and practice sessions”
Coach feedback on Ashvath:
“Ashvath is very hardworking and Confident. He tries to solve all the puzzles very quickly and never misses the opportunity to prove himself. He has a superb potential to be a very good chess player. He always completes his task given by the coach and he also improves by pushing himself.
My best wishes are with Ashvath and hope he will achieve all the heights in his life.”
Few games of Ashvath:
https://lichess.org/xqbyj90c/black
https://lichess.org/jGIBti3S/black
3. Prakeethan ganesh
“Prakeethan Ganesh is 8 years old and studying in 3rd grade. We live in Colorado. He is so fascinated about cars, STEM and CHESS. He joined premier chess academy a year back and coach Hemanth has done an incredible job teaching him the tips and tricks. He goes to the local library chess club and competes with other players. He is more eager to learn more about chess. Looking forward to a wonderful journey with a premier chess academy!!”
Coach feedback on Prakeethan:
” Prakeethan is an enthusiastic, interactive and active kid. He is very logical in puzzle solving sessions and always calm & tries his best. I was really impressed with his performance. Really happy to have a student Like Prakeethan wishing the kid all the best.”
Few games of Prakeethan:
4. Shanaya Pal
“Shanaya Pal is an 8-year-old living in Jersey City, New jersey. She was born in Bangalore, India. Shanaya goes to 2nd grade in Jersey City Global Charter school. She enjoys playing chess with her dad and learning new tricks. Shanaya loves to watch chess matches between Ramesh Praggnanandhaa and Magnus Carlsen on YouTube.
During her free time, she likes to sing, sketch, make crafts and read different graphic novels. Shanaya recently won first place for her artwork under Hudson County Earth Day poster contest. She shows good leadership qualities and is the class Mayor in her school. For this she won the leadership award from Jersey City councilman. Shanaya has immense interest in sports as well. She has been into swimming since age 3 and now she is in the swim team for the last year. She was the 3rd place winner for breaststroke in the NJ YMCA State Championship under 8 categories. She loves gymnastics and tries new yoga postures as well. Shanaya has a strong interest in learning new vocabulary words and is a great speller, she earned Class Spelling Bee title as well as the title for Great Speller winner in the city library. Shanaya also likes to hang out with her friends at school. She even likes to watch movies like ‘Rainbow High’, ‘Harry Potter’, ’Hotel of Transylvania’. Shanaya admires the character Beth Harmon from Queen’s Gambit movie and also Taylor Swift. She dreams of attending a live concert of Taylor Swift.
Shanaya is always excited for her chess class with coach Rohit and never wants to miss any. We would like to thank PCA for doing a wonderful job in shaping the interest and passion of chess in these young minds.”
Coach feedback on Shanaya:
“Shanaya is a strong, solid chess player. Despite being one of the youngest in the class, she outperforms the others. She is excellent at solving puzzles and spotting opponents’ weaknesses. She is very regular in the practice sessions and is consistently securing top 5 positions. I am very happy to see her progress and wish her all the best for her upcoming events.”
Few games of Shanaya:
5. Mourya Borra
“Mourya is a 7yr old boy who is friendly and outgoing. He likes to be creative and helpful. He is very active physically and creatively. He always likes to learn new things. He is effortlessly cool. He likes playing chess. I believe he is learning problem solving and pattern recognition skills as well as patience from chess lessons. It teaches him when the time is right to make moves or learn from mistakes.
Thank you for teaching Mourya chess lessons with patience. I appreciate all that you do.”
Coach feedback on Mourya:
“Mourya is a very disciplined student in the class, he learns the concept very quickly and applies those in his games as well. He is very attentive and enjoys playing chess, you can always find him smiling while playing chess and this is the most amazing thing about him.”
Few games of Mourya:
https://lichess.org/Il3WFVFH/black
6. Meghana patapanchala
“Meghana is 7- years old 2nd grader from Colorado Denver USA. She is going to complete 8 years by June-10th, she has elder brother Murari who is in 5th grade. She basically from Andhra Pradesh India. She likes to dance and play herself in front of mirror. Her hobbies are reading books, playing chess and watching 123 go kids’ channel on YouTube, she goes to swim every week on Sunday. Dada is her best friend, and she likes pink, and her favorite food is mutton biryani.”
Coach feedback on Meghana:
“Meghna is a hard-working kid. She loves to play chess and she likes to solve puzzles. She is very punctual and never misses the classes. She improved a lot and her favorite puzzles to solve are checkmate puzzles. She solves the puzzles quicker than the other kids but, in the games, she likes to take her time. I wish her a wonderful and healthy life.”
Few games of Meghana:
https://lichess.org/2949wKOw/black
https://lichess.org/zN2MNTtl/black
Selection Criteria –MAY 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.
Recent Comments