At ChessAscend Academy, we believe in empowering young minds through chess. Our mission is to guide children on their learning journey by offering classes tailored to their unique skill levels, ensuring that each student is challenged yet supported in their growth. Our approach helps students to develop critical thinking skills, focus, and creativity, while having fun along the way. We aim to cultivate a passion for chess in in our students, and encourage them to enjoy the process of learning.

Here’s an overview of the different levels we offer:

Beginner 1 (Classes U800 to U1000)
Perfect for students who are new to chess or have basic familiarity with the game. We cover fundamental rules, piece movements, board setup, common checkmate patterns, and the importance of controlling the center, which sets up a solid foundation for future learning.

Intermediate (Classes U1200 to U1600)
The Intermediate level is designed for players who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to deepen their understanding. Material covered in the Intermediate classes include tactical motifs, basic positional play, and endgame fundamentals.

Advanced 1 (Under 1800 to U2000)
Players work on fine-tuning advanced skills, such as deep calculation, understanding imbalances, and making practical decisions. 

Advanced 2 (2000+)

This level is for those who are near or above the expert level, with a strong understanding of chess. Students focus on mastering high-level opening repertoires, complex middlegames strategy,  and more advanced endgame knowledge

GM Akshat Chandra

Akshat was born in New Jersey and started playing chess around the age of 9 years old, when his family relocated to India. In just under five years, Akshat approached the Grandmaster rating and recorded one of the fastest rating rises in the world. He was awarded the International Grandmaster title in 2016. Akshat was the 2015 US Junior Champion, 2015 U.S. National High School Champion, 2015 National High School Blitz Champion, and 2013 U.S. National K-9 Champion - all in his first appearances. Akshat also holds the distinction of being the only player to have achieved sole first in two of the top U.S. Collegiate Open tournaments: the University of Texas at Dallas Fall Fide Open, and the Webster University SPICE Cup.

Akshat finished high school when he was 16 and spent the next two years playing chess professionally. Following this period, he accepted a chess scholarship in 2018 to attend Saint Louis University. Akshat pursued his undergraduate degree in Computer Science with a minor in Philosophy, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Philosophy.

Notable Accomplishments
2022 Collegiate National Champion with SLU Chess Team
2019 SPICE CUP Champion
2018 UTD Fall Fide Open Champion
2015 U.S. Junior Champion
2015 National High School Champion
2015 National High School Blitz Champion
2013 K-9 SuperNationals Champion
2013 North American Youth U18 Champion

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