Beyond the 64 Squares: How Chess is Transforming Lives Behind the Scenes at Premier Chess Academy

by Devansh Singh - 08/07/2026

When we talk about chess changing lives, we often visualize a young prodigy from a humble background rising through the ranks to claim a Grandmaster title. We think of the intense battles on the chessboard, the rating spikes, and the tournament podiums. But there is an entirely different, equally powerful revolution happening away from the spotlight. Behind the screens of online training platforms, a quiet transformation is unfolding in the lives of the coaches, administrators, and support staff who dedicate themselves to the royal game.

Life Changing Stories of Chess Coaches at PCA

For many, chess didn't just offer a career; it provided a second chance, financial survival, a sense of dignity, and a profound ultimate purpose. At Premier Chess Academy (PCA), several team members recently paused to reflect on their milestones, sharing deeply personal stories that prove how the ancient game continues to reshape modern destinies.

Man with the plan: Renjith Balakrishnan

When I walked away from my career at Meta (Facebook), I carried one dream back to my motherland: to create 100 meaningful jobs and prove that passion can build dignified careers. Premier Chess Academy was born from that dream. Not everyone has to become a doctor or an engineer to earn respect and build a successful life. I wanted chess coaches, people who dedicated their lives to the game, to have real careers, support their families with pride, and earn the respect they deserve in their families and communities. For me, Premier Chess Academy was never just about teaching chess; it was about using chess to transform lives.

Renjith Balakrishnan, Founder & CEO, Premier Chess Academy

The Power of a Second Chance: Harshraj Gupta's Journey from Rejection to 'Hero of the Month'

For Harshraj Gupta, teaching chess was an offline passion, but the transition to the digital space felt daunting.

"Three years ago, if someone had told me that one interview would completely change my life, I probably wouldn’t have believed them," Harshraj recalls. "Online coaching was entirely new to me. My English wasn’t very good, I used to fumble, and deep inside, I always questioned myself: 'Am I really good enough?'"

Driven by a desire to change his circumstances, Harshraj applied to PCA. He even went to a local barber shop before his HR interview, looking at his reflection and whispering, "Maybe today is the day." But the day brought heartbreak: he was rejected. Instead of letting disappointment anchor him, Harshraj used it as a catalyst. He joined English communication classes, practiced relentlessly, and worked on his confidence. When the academy opened applications again months later, he was ready. This time, the acceptance email arrived.

The rigorous training that followed the numerous mock sessions and constant feedback turned the nervous coach into a master of the digital classroom. Consistency quickly bore fruit. Harshraj went on to win the prestigious "Hero of the Month" award three consecutive times. The financial stability allowed him to achieve a lifelong dream: moving his family out of a rented house into a home of their own, followed by the purchase of his very first car.

Harshraj bought his 1st car

"Sometimes I wonder: what if I had been selected in my first interview? Maybe I would never have worked so hard to improve myself," he says. "Today, I don't look at that rejection with sadness. I look at it with gratitude."

Outperforming Expectations: Abhinandan Ganguly & Soumyajit Das

Five years ago, Abhinandan Ganguly was a 19-year-old engineering student buried under immense pressure. His family was facing five months of overdue house rent, his college semester fees were outstanding, and they were surviving purely on the generosity of relatives.

Everything changed the day he saw his close friend, Soumyajit Das, conducting a chess class online. Amazed that chess could be taught digitally, Abhinandan applied. A life-altering meeting with Renjith Sir secured him the role, and senior coaches stepped in to teach him the ropes of virtual engagement.

Abhinandhan bought an apartment for his mom

The turnaround was meteoric. Within a single year, Abhinandan bought an apartment for his mother. Today, his life is filled with the comforts he once only dreamed of, but his true prize is emotional. "More than any of those things, what I have today is peace of mind because I make a living doing what I love," he shares.

Soumyajit Das tells a parallel story of finding sudden, profound purpose. Back in the lockdown days of 2021, Soumyajit describes his routine as a loop of playing PUBG until 4:00 a.m. and waking up at noon. Chess was a childhood love, but never a career plan.

One night, with his phone battery hovering at just 1%, he clicked on a PCA social media advertisement at 3:00 a.m. and filled out a casual application. That late-night whim set off a domino effect. He was hired, guided, and nicknamed the "Night Owl."

Soumyajit with his 1st bike and car

By September 2021, at age 19, Soumyajit bought his first bike. Months later, he bought one for his father, a deeply emotional milestone for a young man who had lost his mother at age 11. By age 20, he took delivery of a black sedan. Today, he is planning the construction of his family home's first floor.

"The real achievement wasn't the bike or the car," Soumyajit reflects. "The real achievement was finding purpose. It's scary how close I came to missing the opportunity that changed my life."

Defying Medical and Financial Odds: Narendiran T

The story of Narendiran T, hailing from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, is a masterclass in resilience. Armed with a degree in Visual Communication, Narendiran was actively pursuing a bright future in the television and film industry when tragedy struck during his second year of college. He suffered a severe cerebral thrombosis.

The medical emergency altered his physical appearance, caused severe weight fluctuations, and coincided with a catastrophic economic downfall for his family. Forced to abandon his media dreams, he pivoted to journalism, graduating with an exceptional 9.14 CGPA with the intent of becoming a professor. Then, COVID-19 struck, and national exams were indefinitely postponed.

Journey of Narendiran

"At one point, I totally gave up on life," Narendiran admits. "Whatever jobs I tried, nothing worked."

When he came across PCA, he applied with zero expectations, completely unaware that he was stepping into a global platform. The results altered his reality. Not only did he find financial security that left his peers and relatives astonished, but the professional environment allowed him to soar. He cleared his National Instructor (NI) and Arbiter exams, becoming the first person in his district to pass the FIDE Arbiter (FA) exam on the very first attempt.

Even after facing a second major medical crisis in 2024—a pulmonary embolism that placed him on lifetime medication—the professional and financial cushion allowed him to buy his own car, secure a passport, and travel internationally.

"If someone had told me in my college days that I would be playing the curtain-raiser for the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, or standing tall at relatives' get-togethers, I would have laughed," Narendiran says proudly.

Independence, Leadership, and the Working Mother

For Rajashree Bhakta, joining the organization meant discovering a workplace culture built on absolute equity.

"As a female, becoming financially independent will always be one of my proudest accomplishments," Rajashree highlights. "The counseling team is led by a group of women from different ages and backgrounds. The atmosphere is inspiring because we support and push each other to grow together."

Through her career, Rajashree was able to co-fund a home for her parents and take her very first flight, transforming her professional trajectory under the guidance of empowering mentors.

For Pallavi Pathak, a single mother, the platform provided a gift that money simply could not buy: time.

Before turning to online administration, Pallavi could barely see her young son for an hour a day, returning home from an exhausting job long after he had fallen asleep. The transition to a work-from-home role allowed her to secure their financial future, invest in crucial health policies, and remain physically present to guide her son through his critical teenage years as he pursues his dream of becoming an aeronautical engineer.

Similarly, Shabana Nishan describes how she was trapped in a financial corner after her husband's business suffered devastating losses during the pandemic. Working as a tuition teacher with erratic, unpredictable pay, she struggled to help cover basic house rent. An administrative opening at the academy threw her a lifeline, completely changing her family's trajectory and allowing her to confidently support her children's education.

Turning Mistakes into Masterclasses: Chithra Ajay

Growth is rarely a straight line, and Chithra Ajay’s journey to becoming a Lead Admin highlights the empathy required to build a great institution. Joining in August 2021 to assist with basic daily tasks, Chithra's dedication quickly earned her a massive promotion: managing the payment calculations and currency conversions for over 1,500 students and hundreds of coaches.

Nervous about handling large sums of money, her worst fear materialized one afternoon when she accidentally inputted Indian Rupee (INR) figures directly into the US Dollar (USD) column.

"I felt scared and very sad because I knew how serious the mistake was," Chithra shares. "But a few hours later, Renjith Sir called me, explained everything patiently, and cleared my doubts. That incident taught me that mistakes can become valuable lessons if we are willing to learn from them."

Now marking her sixth year as Lead Admin, the former homemaker credits the role with giving her an entirely new identity and the financial confidence to purchase her own laptop and fund the down payment on a family vehicle.

From Setbacks to Checkmates: Kunal Kumar’s Search for the Next Move

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted careers across the country, millions of professionals saw their dreams put on hold. For Kunal Kumar, however, the crisis cleared the board for an extraordinary comeback.

Kunal was originally pursuing a career in science education, but his deep love for the checkered board led him to a breakthrough in 2017–18, when he was appointed coach of his district’s Under-17 and Under-19 chess teams. Their impressive performance earned him a steady job as a school activity teacher. Then, the pandemic struck, costing him his job and leaving him buried under heavy financial obligations and EMIs.

Kunal Kumar

Refusing to give up, Kunal adapted and took a modest, grueling role as an online Chess Coordinator. Despite long hours and limited pay, his passion never faded. When he first interviewed with PCA, he was rejected. But instead of walking away, Kunal analyzed his position, returned for a second attempt, and successfully secured his place in the academy.

That opportunity completely rewrote his trajectory. Beyond providing the financial stability to clear his debts, PCA gave Kunal a launchpad for professional excellence. He went on to earn his official National Instructor (NI) certification and qualified as a Senior National Arbiter (SNA)—milestones that proved his remarkable perseverance.

"Life's toughest positions often conceal the best opportunities," Kunal reflects. "You just have to be willing to keep searching for the next move."

Reclaiming the Lost Passion: Tushar Sharma & Atam Jeet Singh

For coaches like Tushar Sharma, the road to professional chess was paved with grueling manual labor. To keep his chess dreams alive after school, Tushar worked as a bakery salesman, sold books, and worked grueling shifts in retail stores.

When he finally landed a role at a physical school as a chess coach, he would commute by bicycle or walk kilometers to get there, only to find himself buried under 12 to 14 hours of non-chess administrative duties.

The day a friend helped him prepare for his PCA interview, everything clicked. He was so determined to seize the opportunity that he drafted his resignation letter before he even knew the interview results. His gamble paid off. Within six months of joining, his family repaid every outstanding debt. After shifting through more than 20 cramped, rented houses over a lifetime, they finally built a stable home.

Finally, Atam Jeet Singh brings the narrative full circle, detailing what it feels like to lose your passion and claw it back. Having lost his parents early in life and suffering crippling financial losses in the stock market, Atam Jeet moved to Delhi with nothing but survival on his mind, initially taking a call center job for ₹10,000 a month.

When he joined PCA on May 8, 2021, he had completely stopped playing competitive chess. Responsibilities had squeezed the game out of his life. Furthermore, his first attempt at coaching years prior had been a disaster due to intense stage fright.

The academy invested heavily in his training, replacing his anxiety with structured coaching methodologies. As his schedule stabilized and his income grew, something magical happened: Atam Jeet rediscovered his first love. He started playing competitively again.

"It felt like meeting an old friend after many years," Atam Jeet says beautifully. "I wasn't just teaching chess anymore. I was living chess again."

Atm Jeet Singh at 19th LBHM Tournament

His competitive comeback reached new heights when he secured 3rd Place at a major tournament in Bareilly in October 2025, followed by a roaring 1st Place category finish at the 19th LBHM 'King of Strategy' Tournament in Pune in February 2026.

The Ultimate Grandmaster Strategy

The overarching sentiment shared by these diverse individuals spanning different states, languages, and backgrounds points directly toward an intentional, people-first leadership style led by figures like CEO Renjith and the core management team. Whether it is stepping in to fund internet connections for struggling teenagers, providing medical and financial safety nets, or turning errors into mentorship opportunities, the culture treats human capital as its most valuable asset.

As Suvradeepta Das, an accomplished player who once managed a brilliant simultaneous draw against World Champion Viswanathan Anand, summarizes:

"Friends and families started believing in this path only after they saw my lifestyle change. In today’s world, respect is tied heavily to stability. PCA didn't just give me an incredible 3.5-year journey; it taught me leadership skills rooted in absolute positivity."

Chess is often described as a battlefield of cold logic and calculated sacrifices. But as the stories of Harshraj, Abhinandan, Soumyajit, Narendiran, Rajashree, Pallavi, Shabana, Chithra, Tushar, Atam Jeet, and Suvradeepta illustrate, when chess is channeled through a compassionate community, its greatest checkmate is the one it delivers against human struggle.