GrandMaster, FIDE Trainer and India’s highest FIDE rated professional coach.
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!
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.
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!
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 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! He is a big fan of the "Mockumentary" genre in sitcoms, and by now, you must have guessed that he is a big fan of "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation"
It should be no surprise that he loves writing, as he is the author of "The Modernized Berlin Wall Defense". He also has a bunch of articles for leading chess magazines and websites under his belt. He loves the fact that he gets to share his experiences with a worldwide audience through his writing, which is why he writes a monthly blog for Chess Gaja followers these days. Chess is not the only genre he likes to write about, as he has scribbled a few Tamil Poems over the years too.
GrandMaster Susan Polgar
He is so grateful to interact and to have worked closely with former World Chess Champion Susan Polgar from 2016-18, when he was under her mentorship in the "SPICE" program at Webster University.
Susan did not just give valuable advice on how to get better as a chess player, but also some great life and professional advice that has shaped him as a person.
Susan also wrote the Foreward for his Berlin book, and he is forever thankful for such a wonderful gesture.
Dr.Joe Roberts
Priyadharshan first met Dr Roberts when Priyadharshan was doing a Master's degree at Webster University. Dr Roberts has been a great guide and mentor for Priyadharshan personally and professionally. Dr Roberts is the Chair of The Management Department and serves as Director of The Entrepreneurship Program at Webster University. He is The National Program Director of The Coleman Foundation Faculty Fellows Program. He won an award for the 2012 Peter Drucker Challenge. His work includes presenting entrepreneurship and innovation workshops and seminars in China, Taiwan, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Estonia, Finland and India. He has authored several articles and won the Telly and Aegis Awards for the documentary "Entrepreneurship, Then and Now." Dr Roberts is an entrepreneurship consultant with extensive experience helping entrepreneurs procure start-up funding.
Mr.Sethuraman Sathappan
Mr Sethuraman Sathappan, the COO of Emirates NBD India, has guided him in the nuances of entrepreneurship and has been sharing all his incredible wisdom for his personal growth and the growth of Chess Gaja.
GrandMaster R.B.Ramesh
GM R.B.Ramesh was not just a chess coach to him from 2010-2015, but has also shared a lot of valuable life lessons that have helped him shape his personality.
He still occasionally interacts with GM Ramesh, and every interaction has some takeaway.