![Screenshot-2024-10-26-160340-[Recovered]](https://priyadharshan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-26-160340-Recovered-1.png)
Hello, I’m
Priyadharshan Kannappan
GrandMaster, FIDE Trainer and India’s highest FIDE rated professional chess coach.
Hello, I’m
Priyadharshan Kannappan
GrandMaster, FIDE Trainer and India’s highest FIDE rated professional chess coach.
My Story
My Childhood
Born in Madurai on 1st December 1993, he got introduced to the magical world of Chess at the age of 6.5, thanks to his brother Prasanna. Since then, Chess has been an integral part of his life! His interest in Chess kept growing due to his continued success in the state and national level events, where he consistently finished in the top-10 rankings, which motivated his parents to help him pursue his passion!
My Adolescence
This was an amazing period of his life, as he travelled around the world (10 countries) and played a game that he dearly loved! He also won all his age category medals in his adolescence. He picked up the International Master title at 16, winning the Asian U-16 Championship in New Delhi in 2009. The most memorable moment for him in his adolescence was meeting the former President of India, Mr APJ. Abdul Kalam in Rashtrapathi Bhavan in 2005, as he got an invitation to meet him after winning the Asian U-12 championship.
My Adulthood
He moved to the U.S. at 19 to do his B.S. in Marketing degree from Lindenwood University in St.Louis, Missouri. The U.S education gave him a whole new perspective on life, as he got to meet amazing people from all over the world, and some of them are very good friends of his now! As he completed his undergraduate degree, he also became a GrandMaster at the age of 23. Then he went on to complete his M.A in Management and Leadership from Webster University, where he got to train under the legendary Susan Polgar!
In 2018 he moved back to India, and now he is on his startup journey to build a world-class chess organization!
My Interests
Books
He’s a big fan of non-fiction titles, specifically on the following topics: History, Social Sciences, Business, and Biography. He loves reading in Tamil & English. Would you believe it if he finished the whole “Ponniyin Selvan” Tamil book series at the age of 11!
Movies and Sitcoms
Movies under “Slice of Life” or “Comedy” would be his to-go pick on any given day! He used to watch many movies in his younger days, but these days watches only the ones that are highly recommended. He prefers to watch movies in Tamil and Malayalam!
Writing
It’s no surprise he loves writing—he’s the author of “The Modernized Berlin Wall Defense” and has contributed articles to top chess magazines and websites. He now shares his experiences with a global audience through a monthly Chess Gaja blog. Beyond chess, he’s penned a few Tamil poems over the years as well.
My Mentors
GrandMaster Susan Polgar (Mentored 2016 - Current)
I am so grateful to have interacted and worked closely with former World Chess Champion Susan Polgar from 2016-18, during my time under her mentorship in the “SPICE” program at Webster University. Susan provided not only invaluable advice on improving as a chess player but also offered insightful life and professional guidance that has truly shaped me as a person.
Susan also wrote the Foreword for my Berlin book, and I am forever thankful for such a wonderful gesture.
Dr.Joe Roberts (2016 - Current)
Mr.Sethuraman Sathappan (Mentored 2021- Current)
