Chess Pupils Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the benefits of chess to young children from all backgrounds.
The need for such an organization was first noticed by Chess Pupils Founder Aditya when he saw the lack of chess programs in local schools for interested students, and he saw an opportunity to change this through the Chess Pupils Program.
ChessPupils believes that each child deserves the opportunity to experience chess. The benefits of chess are scientifically proven, helping kids develop various skills like creativity, planning, time management, and critical thinking.
ChessPupils aims to provide free instruction to students in an interactive setting, providing a vital change in education that the founders wish they had experienced.
Our Team
Aditya Gupta, Founder
Aditya Gupta is the founder and executive director of Chess Pupils. He is also the founder of ThePuzzlr, a non-profit dedicated to helping provide free resources to competitive mathletes.
Aditya holds the title of Chess National Master. Several of his chess accolades include:
1. US Chess Scholar: One of 5 recipients of the prestigious US Chess Scholars Award. It is awarded to the most talented juniors and seniors across the nation on the basis of Chess, Academic, and Leadership abilities. Winners are also given a monetary scholarship.
2. Warren Junior Scholar, a prestigious program by the ICA to distinguish promising youth chess player
3. Winning multiple IL Junior State Championships, such as the Illinois All-Grade Championship 2021.
4. Runner-up in the IL High School Denker Tournament ~ a tournament of the most competitive and strongest junior chess players in the state of IL.
5. Helping lead the Fremd High School Chess Team, through immersive lectures and intensive training, to a competitive finish at the Illinois Chess State Event(tied for 2nd, 4h on tie-breaks), the biggest team tournament in the U.S.A.
Volunteers
Jason Zhou, Outreach Director
Jason Zhou is a 1700-rated (USCF) player who has been playing chess for two years. What started as a past time during quarantine, chess soon became a passion for Jason. Jason hopes to use his own experience to help foster others’ interest in chess, not just as a competitive game but also as a means of connection to an entire community of people.
Rishi Kanchi, Outreach Director
Rishi Kanchi is a rising junior at Fremd High School, renowned for his outstanding skills as a member of the Chess team. Despite delving into the game just two years ago, he has rapidly emerged as a formidable player within the club, honing his strategies and techniques through relentless practice and determination. Rishi’s passion for the game extends beyond personal success, as he is deeply committed to fostering growth and enjoyment among his teammates.
Ryan Barretto, Instructor
Ryan Barretto is a 2000+ (USCF) rated chess player. He has been playing the game for a little over three years, achieving his chess USCF Expert designation in a relatively quick time. A sophomore at Fremd High School, Ryan is glad that he was able to enjoy the game of chess. About chess, he says, “Chess has really helped me in working harder and better and opened my eyes to life in general. I hope to give my students the same experiences”.
Sameer Ilyas, Instructor
Sameer Ilyas is a sophomore at Fremd High School, and a well-known member of the Chess team. Approaching his second anniversary after first picking up the game, he became a seasoned contender in his club after many hours of hard work and practice. Dedicated to helping others improve, himself being a beginner not too long ago, he hopes to help others “experience the beauty of chess, and above all, have fun doing it.”
Vinay Sridhar, Instructor
Vinay Sridhar is a 1500-rated (USCF) rated player who has been playing chess for 4 years. He plays loads of chess in his free time and you can often catch him solving puzzles online. Vinay hopes to continue getting better at chess and share his knowledge with whoever is interested in this captivating game.
Past Volunteers
Rohan Rao, Instructor
Rohan Rao is a senior at Fremd High School and is a seasoned member of the Chess Team. Rohan was the co-captain, and now holds the player development chair. He has been playing chess since the first grade, but improved drastically when he joined the team his freshman year, where he then worked hard to gain a spot on the state team his sophomore and junior year. Rohan hopes to help others get the tools they need to get better so they can finally beat that one family member.