Online Chess Classes, with
GRANDMASTER Guidance
Chess Gaja: High-Performance Online Chess Training for Champions
Meet Your Mentor
- GrandMaster and FIDE Trainer
- Priyadharshan Kannappan (USCF rating - 2632, FIDE rating - 2553)
- Coach of Indian Sub Junior Team for 2019 Chess Olympiad
- Coach of Brazil National Team for 2022 Chess Olympiad
- Coach of Mauritius and Eritrea team for 2024 Chess Olympiad
Our Offerings
Recommended for International students
Group Classes
- Small group size
- Interactive Classes with missed class Recordings
- FREE entry for 10+ Lichess Monthly Tournaments and many more ...
Recommended for International students
1-1 Classes
- Personalized Time Table by GM
- Flexible Timing
- Transparent Pricing
- Coach who takes the starter class takes the actual class as well
- Detailed Game Analysis & Performance Tracking and many more...
Master Classes
- Advanced Training by IM, GM
- Intense training for serious players
- A mix of discussion, play and analysis
- FREE entry for 10+ Lichess Monthly Tournaments and many more ...
Champions at Chess Gaja
Naysa (1040 USCF)
Naysa, from New York, USA, joined Chess Gaja in August 2024, with a starting rating of 747. She has made significant progress, now holding a USCF rating of 1040. In her recent tournament, the Championship at Manhattan Day School, she delivered an outstanding performance, securing 1st place and achieving her new peak rating.
Akshay (1724 USCF)
A long-time Chess Gaja student, Akshay from Texas, USA rejoined on February 4, 2025. He has demonstrated some strong performances in recent times, currently holding a USCF rating of 1724. His recent participation in the 16th Annual Southwest Class Champ tournament helped him reach this milestone, showcasing his steady improvement.
Gurugrahan(1946 USCF)
Gurugrahan started his Chess Gaja journey with a USCF rating of 1088 in April 2022. He has improved by leaps and bounds and now has a rating of 1946. He is currently ranked 7th in the U-9 USCF rankings. He defeated Grandmaster Gurevich at the 2025 US Amateur Team North. Gurugrahan is coached by one of our GMs in the academy. He was also part of our highly successful Top-10 GrandMaster class program.
We are confident that Gurugrahan will soon break through the 2000 rating and continue to climb up the rating ladder.
Vaseegaran(2178 USCF)
In December 2021, he began lessons with Grand Master Priyadharshan Kannappan at Chess Gaja. When Vaseegaran started classes, he was rated 2013, and now he is a National Master, trying to get his IM norms. He is currently ranked 30th in the USCF U-16 rankings. Vaseegaran is the co-champion in the 2022 K-8 National Championship and the Blitz Championship. He has participated in the 2024 Lone Star Open Chess Championship, winning 4 out of 5 games and achieved a rating of 2178.
Aurik (1652 FIDE)
Aurik, a student from Singapore, has been part of Chess Gaja for a long time. He began with group lessons and, as he progressed, transitioned to personalized one-on-one coaching. Currently, Aurik holds a standard FIDE rating of 1652. In December 2024, he showcased his skills in the Singapore National Age Group Chess Championships U10 and the KCFAP Standard 60 Tournaments (Sunday 26th Edition). From these two tournaments, he achieved an impressive gain of 163.6 standard FIDE rating points.
Priyansh (2228 USCF)
Priyansh has been taking classes with Chess Gaja since 2021. When he joined the academy, he had a rating of 1325. Currently, he holds a USCF rating of 2228. In his recent performance at the 2025 World Amateur Team Tournament, he performed well. He also holds the title of National Master.
Sanjay (1997 USCF)
Sanjay from Texas, USA, joined Chess Gaja in February 2024 with an initial USCF rating of 1734. He has made significant progress, reaching a rating of 1997. His latest achievement was at the 2025 AGCA Spring Championship, where he scored 2.5 out of 5 points, gaining 14 USCF rating points.
Naysa (1040 USCF)
Naysa, from New York, USA, joined Chess Gaja in August 2024, with a starting rating of 747. She has made significant progress, now holding a USCF rating of 1040. In her recent tournament, the Championship at Manhattan Day School, she delivered an outstanding performance, securing 1st place and achieving her new peak rating.
Akshay (1724 USCF)
A long-time Chess Gaja student, Akshay from Texas, USA rejoined on February 4, 2025. He has demonstrated some strong performances in recent times, currently holding a USCF rating of 1724. His recent participation in the 16th Annual Southwest Class Champ tournament helped him reach this milestone, showcasing his steady improvement.
Gurugrahan(1946 USCF)
Gurugrahan started his Chess Gaja journey with a USCF rating of 1088 in April 2022. He has improved by leaps and bounds and now has a rating of 1946. He is currently ranked 7th in the U-9 USCF rankings. He defeated Grandmaster Gurevich at the 2025 US Amateur Team North. Gurugrahan is coached by one of our GMs in the academy. He was also part of our highly successful Top-10 GrandMaster class program.
We are confident that Gurugrahan will soon break through the 2000 rating and continue to climb up the rating ladder.
Vaseegaran(2178 USCF)
In December 2021, he began lessons with Grand Master Priyadharshan Kannappan at Chess Gaja. When Vaseegaran started classes, he was rated 2013, and now he is a National Master, trying to get his IM norms. He is currently ranked 30th in the USCF U-16 rankings. Vaseegaran is the co-champion in the 2022 K-8 National Championship and the Blitz Championship. He has participated in the 2024 Lone Star Open Chess Championship, winning 4 out of 5 games and achieved a rating of 2178.
Aurik (1652 FIDE)
Aurik, a student from Singapore, has been part of Chess Gaja for a long time. He began with group lessons and, as he progressed, transitioned to personalized one-on-one coaching. Currently, Aurik holds a standard FIDE rating of 1652. In December 2024, he showcased his skills in the Singapore National Age Group Chess Championships U10 and the KCFAP Standard 60 Tournaments (Sunday 26th Edition). From these two tournaments, he achieved an impressive gain of 163.6 standard FIDE rating points.
Our Journey, in Numbers
6+
Years
5k+
Students Taught
30+
Coaches
20+
Countries
Featured in
How Chess Gaja Uses a Zoho CRM Tool to to Enhance Customer Service
Chess Gaja uses the Wise LMS to simplify learning for students.
Webster University featured us in their blog: ‘Alumnus Opens Successful Online Chess Academy in India.
Chess Gaja uses Razorpay for payments to provide you with a better experience.
Feedspot featured us in their list of the 20 Best Indian Chess Blogs and Websites for 2024.
Why you should choose
Chess Gaja?
Time Table
Time table crafted by GM Priyadharshan, featuring recommended YouTube channels and book suggestions for optimal learning among academy students. Check out our YouTube video to discover the value of the Grandmaster Timetable!
Tournaments
Chess Gaja organizes 10+ monthly online tournaments, allowing students to apply their acquired knowledge. Occasional participation by GM Priyadharshan enhances the competitive experience.
Customer Support
Our dedicated customer support team is available around the clock providing an unparalleled experience for both students and parents.
Hassle Free Payments
Effortlessly transact globally with diverse payment options, partnered with Razorpay International Transactions. Check out our featured blog on Razorpay’s platform.
LMS Integration
Utilize our Learning Management System (LMS) to elevate your overall chess class experience. Give immediate feedback after classes and effortlessly track your class counts.
Diverse Coach Levels
Benefit from the range of coaches spanning various levels from FIDE Rating to GM, offering students flexibility in their learning journey.
The section of Testimonials
Chess Gaja has been instrumental in helping my son stay focused and deepen his understanding of the game. The coaches he’s worked with have all been friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable. My son especially enjoys the one-on-one sessions and looks forward to them each time. He’s learned many valuable strategies, tricks, and attacking techniques that have significantly improved his game. We're truly grateful for the positive impact Chess Gaja has had on his development!
Feb 23, 2025
Thank you chess Gaja for the wonderful support throughout the process and the coach match with Deepak. The entire experience has been extremely smooth and impactful for us, our son has been enjoying the sessions and also seeing a huge impact in the rating (up 100 points in a few weeks). His positional play has improved. Chess Gaja even recommended some books based on his play and level and they have been one of the best recommendations so far. We intend to continue our journey here. Thank you.
Nov 21, 2024
I highly recommend Chess Gaja for the players/parents because I could really see lot of improvements with my son’s game play which gained him confidence to play in the tournaments. Thanks to all the coaches of Chess Gaja, all of you are dedicated, knowledgable, friendly and also trains very well! Truly appreciate your preparations before every classes. Special Thanks to GM Priyadharshan sir!
Jun 8, 2024
The section of FAQs
1. I am just starting to learn chess, can I learn in ChessGaja?
We have coaches who cater to students of all chess levels starting from Absolute Beginner to GrandMaster strength. If you’re unsure of your child’s level, please provide us with their chess.com or lichess ID. So, we can understand their level and provide appropriate recommendations.
2. Is online sessions as beneficial as in-person lessons?
Modern chess training primarily occurs online, offering numerous advantages such as convenience, flexible timing, and overcoming distance barriers. Advanced tools and digital boards enhance the learning experience. Additionally, our Learning Management Software ensures structured training, easy tracking, and real-time monitoring, allowing seamless navigation, feedback, and a personalized learning journey. We firmly believe online sessions are as effective or even better than in-person sessions.
3. Can my 4 year old learn chess ?
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Contact
- Address- CHESS GAJA PRIVATE LIMITED PLOT NO 15, KANNADASAN STREET GOMATHIPURAM EXTENSION, BEHIND OLD EB OFFICE MADURAI-625020, TAMILNADU, INDIA
- Ph: +91-9840436019 (only for WhatsApp)
- GSTIN - 33AAJCC5479K1Z8
- CIN - U80100TN2021PTC144096
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