AKHILESH's CHESS CLUB FOUNDATION
Meet Our Coaches
CommitMENT & Talent
A team of passionate, FIDE-rated chess professionals committed to shaping champions.
Saptorshi Gupta
Biostatistician | National Selector
FIDE Rating: 2115
- West Bengal U15 Champion (2014)
- Commonwealth Games Player (2018)
- Champion - Auckland Waitangi Weekender (2025)
- Top 3 - Vratislava Hory Memorial, Czech Republic
Atharva Madkar
IIT Graduate | Tournament Winner
FIDE Rating: 1976
- Winner - Agra Open (2024)
- Winner - Belgaum Open (2025)
- Winner - Goa GM Cat B (2025)
CM Akhilesh Nagare
FIDE Candidate Master | Chess Club Founder
FIDE Rating: 2245
- Represented India at the Commonwealth Chess Championship (2018)
- FIDE Candidate Master title & International Master (IM) norm (2024)
WIM Rutuja Bakshi
Woman International Master | World U12 Blitz Champion
FIDE Rating: 2152
- World U12 Blitz Champion (2011)
- Gold Medalist - Commonwealth U19 Girls (2019)
- 25+ State Championships
NI Varad Deo
National Instructor | Psychologist | Early Learning Expert
FIDE Rating: 1577
- 9 Years Coaching Experience
- Topper - FIDE Instructor Seminar (2023)
- Coached Multiple State & National Winners
Why Choose ACC Coaches?
1
Internationally Ranked
All coaches are FIDE-rated with proven tournament experience.
2
Structured Programs
Personal coaching plans tailored by experts.
3
Holistic Growth
We teach chess as a life skill — building focus, patience, and critical thinking.
4
Passion-Driven
Each coach is committed to seeing young players grow both on and off the board.
♟️Saptorshi Gupta
FIDE ELO Rating: 2115 Based in: Auckland, New Zealand
About:
Starting his journey at age 9 in Kolkata, Saptorshi trained at the Behala Chess Club and eventually returned as a coach to mentor the next generation. He has won several state and national-level events and competed across Europe and New Zealand.
Career Highlights:
- West Bengal U15 State Champion (2014)
- National medalist with Calcutta University (2017 & 2018)
- Winner – Auckland Waitangi Weekender (2025)
- Joint 3rd – Vratislava Hory Memorial, Czech Republic
Academic & Professional:
Hobbies: Photography, travel
♟️ Atharva Madkar
FIDE ELO Rating: 1976 (Peak 1984) Based in: India
About:
Atharva is an active competitive player with an eye for sharp tactics and strong finishes. A consistent podium finisher in major Indian tournaments, he’s known for his calm style and love for both playing and teaching.
Career Highlights:
- Agra Open 2024 – Winner (₹1,10,000)
- Belgaum Open 2025 – Winner (₹55,000)
- Goa GM Cat B 2025 – Winner (₹1,75,000)
Academic & Professional:
Engineering Physics graduate from IIT Guwahati. Coaching since 2022 with a focus on tournament prep and strategy.
Hobbies: Cycling, trekking, football, badminton, board games
♟️ WIM Rutuja Bakshi
FIDE ELO Rating: 2152 Based in: India
About:
Introduced to chess at 6 by her father, Rutuja is a World Blitz U12 Champion and a Commonwealth U19 Gold Medalist. Known for her resilience and patience, she became a Woman International Master (WIM) in 2025.
Career Highlights:
- World Blitz U12 Girls Champion (Dubai, 2011)
- Commonwealth Gold – U19 Girls (Delhi, 2019)
- Winner of 25+ State Championships
- Maharashtra State Open Champion (2019)
Academic & Professional:
Chartered Accountant finalist – balancing strategy on and off the board.
Beliefs from Chess:
Never give up, patience under pressure, and sharp decision-making.
♟️ NI Varad Deo
FIDE ELO Rating: 1577 Based in: India
About:
A highly experienced chess educator with 9 years of coaching, Varad specializes in teaching children as young as 3. His strength lies in simplifying concepts while cultivating deep understanding and confidence in kids.
Credentials & Experience:
- National Instructor – Topper at FIDE seminar (Dec 2023)
- FIDE Chess in Education Certified Trainer
- Expert in Computer Chess & Psychological learning
Student Successes:
- Samakhya Singh – Jamaican U9 National Champion (1499)
- Arul Shinde – Uttarakhand U9 Champion (1575)
- Multiple students rated over 1500: Shourya, Ayush, Arnav
Academic & Professional:
Holds a degree in Psychology.
Hobbies: Reading, sports, travel, photography