Harish Kumar’s love for chess started at a young age. Growing up, he was always drawn to the game, fascinated by the strategy and critical thinking it required. By the time he was 21, he was already teaching kids how to play chess. It started with offline coaching, where he helped kids build their confidence and improve their skills. But after a major competition, Harish realized that there was much more potential for coaching, and that’s when his journey took a new direction.
In the early days of his career, Harish took a bold step and decided to take his coaching online. “I was one of the first to seriously commit to online coaching,” Harish recalls. “There were times when I would teach for 10 hours straight, guiding players from all levels—whether they were complete beginners or experienced competitors.” This was a turning point in his life, as online coaching opened up opportunities to reach students not just from his local area, but from across the world. His students come from all over the globe, including the US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many more.
Through his academy, Chessedify International Academy, Harish has coached more than 1,000 students over the years. With more than 20,000 hours of online teaching under his belt, he has earned the prestigious Arena Grandmaster (GM) title in 2016. He is also proud of the successes his students have achieved. Some of his students have earned the title of USCF Candidate Masters, and one of his students, Dhruva Patil, became the ChessKid National Champion.
What makes Harish stand out as a chess coach is his personalized approach. “I don’t follow a fixed syllabus,” he explains. “Each student is unique. I take the time to understand their individual strengths and weaknesses and help them grow at their own pace.” This approach has helped many of his students succeed, and it is clear that Harish’s dedication to each individual is a big part of his success as a coach.
For Harish, chess is not just a game; it’s a tool for life. He believes that playing chess helps kids develop important skills that they can use in other areas of their lives. “Chess helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity,” Harish says. “It makes kids smarter, more analytical, and better at making decisions.” He also points out that many chess players, because of these skills, go on to excel in fields like programming, architecture, and engineering. Chess teaches kids to think strategically, plan ahead, and find solutions to complex problems—skills that are valuable in many careers.
The chess world has changed a lot over the years, and Harish is proud of how much talent has emerged from India. “India’s chess talent is amazing,” he says, noting that young players like Gukesh have recently made history by becoming world champions. “It shows that hard work and great coaching can help anyone achieve their goals,” Harish adds.
As a player, Harish has had his share of success too. He has won the Udupi District Championship more than five times, placed in the top 10 at state-level tournaments, and finished 18th in national competitions. His most recent achievement was being the 2nd runner-up at the SNG School of Chess Open Rapid Tournament. Harish has always been dedicated to improving his own skills, and his experience as a player gives him an edge when coaching others.
In addition to coaching, Harish is also a National Chess Arbiter. He has organized over 50 chess tournaments in the Udupi and Mangalore districts, helping bring the chess community together. “I’m proud to be a National Chess Arbiter,” Harish says, “but right now, my main focus is on coaching.” Organizing tournaments used to be a big part of his work, but now his time is spent primarily on helping his students succeed.
Like many coaches, Harish has faced some challenges along the way. “One of the hardest parts of this job is when you spend so much time and effort helping your students improve, and then other coaches take them and claim them as their own,” he says. This is a common frustration for many coaches who pour their hearts into their students, only for them to be taken away without proper credit or acknowledgment.
Harish also reflects on how much the game has changed. “Chess has become so competitive now,” he explains. “Kids today are beating experienced players because they have access to better coaching and resources. When I was growing up, I didn’t have a coach. I learned by studying the games of legends like Fischer and Capablanca.” Financial support was also a big barrier for him, but Harish persevered, learning as much as he could on his own and passing that knowledge on to others.
His biggest inspiration in the chess world has been Venkatachalam Kameswaran, India’s first international arbiter and the official coach of GM Viswanathan Anand. Harish wrote a book titled The Journey to Temple City about Kameswaran’s visit to Udupi in 2009. On that day, Harish also organized an Interdistrict Rapid Chess Tournament with Kameswaran as the chief guest. “Kameswaran’s influence on me was huge,” Harish says. “He showed me the value of hard work and dedication, and that’s something I try to pass on to my students.”
For Harish, chess is more than just a passion—it’s a way of life. It’s about inspiring others, teaching life skills, and helping students reach their full potential. If you want to learn more or join his academy, visit www.chessmentor.in.