Young Grandmasters Academy was founded by passionate chess professionals from Bangalore with a simple yet powerful belief — every child has the potential to think smart, grow confident, and succeed through chess.
We offer world-class chess coaching for children aged 6 to 18, designed to nurture young minds in a positive, engaging, and structured environment. Through chess, our students develop critical thinking, concentration, patience, creativity, and self-confidence — skills that extend far beyond the chessboard and into everyday life.
Our carefully designed programs support children at every stage of their journey, from first moves for beginners to advanced training for competitive players. With small-group learning and personalized attention, our experienced coaches ensure that each child learns at their own pace while enjoying the process.
With students from India and across the globe, Young Grandmasters Academy is proud to be a trusted space where children learn, grow, and thrive. We don’t just teach chess — we mentor young minds, inspire discipline, and shape future leaders.
At Young Grandmasters Academy, chess is more than a game.
It’s a foundation for confidence, character, and lifelong excellence.
To stand as the foremost International chess academy, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of strategic, confident thinkers and champions.
To bring world-class chess education to children worldwide, leveraging the game to build strategy, focus, resilience, and strong character.
At YGCA, our leadership team combines elite chess expertise with professional operational excellence. This ensures every student receives:


“Every Chess Master was once a Beginner.”

Naren Nandakumar, The Head Coach at Young Grandmasters Chess Academy (YGCA) and a FIDE-rated chess professional with over two decades of competitive playing experience. A former NPS Chess Team Captain and former winner of CBSE South Zone competitions, Naren brings deep expertise in tactics, strategy, and structured chess training.
He has coached students across India, Germany, Europe and the USA, including state-level champions and internationally rated players. Naren is known for his student-first coaching approach, helping young players build strong fundamentals, tournament confidence, and long-term rating growth through a structured, age-appropriate curriculum.
Specializations:
Structured chess curriculum for kids
Tournament preparation & game analysis.
Tactical training, openings & endgames.
Mentoring young talents for competitive chess
Likith Chilkuri is a Head Coach at YGCA and a 2100+ FIDE-rated competitive chess player, with multiple achievements at the state and national levels. As a former Karnataka State U-19 Champion, Likith brings high-performance training methods and a modern competitive mindset to YGCA’s advanced programs.
He specializes in developing tournament-ready players, focusing on opening preparation, tactical sharpness, endgame technique, and psychological readiness for competition. Likith has successfully coached students across beginner to advanced levels, helping them improve ratings and perform confidently in tournaments.
Specializations:
Advanced tournament coaching.
Opening preparation & middlegame planning.
Endgame technique & practical play.
Performance coaching for competitive chess.


Rohan Sanjeevi Udaya is the Co-Founder and leads Operations & Partnerships at Young Grandmasters Chess Academy. With a huge passion for Chess and with a background in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA from Germany, and experience in Investment Banking, Rohan brings strong operational leadership and global perspective to YGCA.
Now based in Bangalore, he oversees school partnerships, academy operations, international expansion, and parent engagement, ensuring YGCA delivers a professional, high-quality learning experience both online and offline. Rohan is deeply committed to building a world-class chess ecosystem in India, empowering young learners with skills that go beyond the chessboard—focus, discipline, strategic thinking, and confidence.
Responsibilities:
School & institutional partnerships.
Academy operations & program delivery.
International student programs.
Parent communication & growth strategy.