Founder and Director
Our founder, Mr. Kapil Lohana is driven by unwavering passion for chess, a flame that ignited the creation of our academy. His commitment to the game goes beyond the board, fueling a journey marked by strategic brilliance and unparalleled dedication.
With an impressive international rating, he also holds the title of National Instructor from India. His coaching journey started around 2004. Later he held his first chess camp at BITS PILANI Institute, Rajasthan, in 2005.
Lacking the professional environment in Yavatmal, he shifted to Pune in 2006 to pursue his chess dream. The journey started on a high as he won the first tournament he played in Pune – the prestigious ‘Buddhibal Jallosh’.
In the same year, he joined the Symbiosis Chess School, one of the well-known chess coaching centers at the time, where he worked for a few years.
His teaching method soon started to bring great results. Many of his students started winning tournaments at various levels. Among them was a young kid who later became India’s 69th Grandmaster!
The word about his coaching spread quickly. By 2010, Kapil Lohana had established his reputation as one of the best chess coaches in Pune.
While analyzing what helped his students improve quickly, he uncovered 3 factors that he believes play an important role in the life of every sportsman:
To bridge this gap, Kapil Lohana started the Victorious Chess Academy in Pune in 2013.
A year later, he visited South Africa for the World Youth Chess Championship 2014 as the coach of one of his pupils. There, he passed the trainers exam conducted by FIDE (World Chess Federation) to achieve the title of National Instructor (NI) from India.
In 2015, he represented India as a coach at the 2nd World Chess Championship for the Disabled in Germany with his beloved student and dear friend, Late. Shailesh M. Nerlikar.
For Kapil Lohana, the words of his Physics teacher, Mr. Bhuse, are etched in his memory.
“Teachers use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross. After having felicitated their crossing, they joyfully collapse, encouraging the students to create bridges of their own.”
That summarizes his coaching philosophy. Today, he’s on a mission to build as many bridges as he can through Victorious Chess Academy.
Mr. Sameer Ghela left IT to follow his passion for teaching. With an ELO of 1732 and a FIDE Developmental Instructor title, he has over 8 years of coaching experience. Known for simplifying complex positions, he is dedicated to training budding talents and exemplifies the rewards of pursuing one's passion.
Mr. Vaishnav Jangam, rated 1618 ELO, has 10 years of chess experience. He emphasizes mastering the basics as key to improvement. Specializing in positional chess and endgames, Vaishnav is dedicated to helping his students excel.
Mr. Harsh Tyagi, a National-level player with a 1474 ELO rating, advocates for Simple-Smart-Smooth learning. He believes chess develops deep thinking skills and focuses on making learning effective and enjoyable for his students.
Mr. Pranav Jagtap, rated 1605 ELO, is a former VCA student turned coach with 3+ years of experience. He focuses on helping kids master chess fundamentals and enjoys teaching endgames interactively.
Ms. Gargi Sane, rated 1606 ELO, is a National Instructor and one of VCA’s first coaches. With over 9 years of experience, she excels at teaching beginners and children aged 5-10, making complex concepts engaging through stories and examples.
Mr. Yash Watarkar, rated 1915 ELO, secured 6th place at an international tournament in Prague. With numerous district, divisional, and state-level wins, he brings all that experience to his coaching as well. He enjoys coaching and watching his students transform into better players.
Mr. Aditya Madkar, rated 1691 ELO, has over 14 years of playing experience and 2+ years of coaching. He is dedicated to helping his students learn and enjoy chess, inspired by the game’s impact on his life.
Mr. Atharva Madkar, rated 1828 ELO, has represented Maharashtra at the National level and won numerous tournaments. With 4+ years of coaching experience, he focuses on sparking students' interest in chess and identifying their potential early.
Mr. Yash Ankaikar, a former VCA student turned coach with 4+ years of experience, has won various trophies. He enjoys helping students develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, mirroring his own learning journey.
Mr. Parth Ostwal is a trainer with over 4+ of coaching experience. He has won many tournaments at district level in his career as a player. He loves to engage with his students and see them grow.
Mr. Anubhav Singh is an international rated player of 1575 ELO points. A passionate coach, his coaching style is about fostering a positive learning environment for students, where they can actively participate and improve.
Mr. Satyam Warude, rated 1881 ELO, who has won tournaments at the district and state level & has represented SPPU at the All India University Chess Tournament. With 7+ years of coaching experience, he has trained district, state, and age group national champions since 2016.
Ms. B Akshaya is an international rated player with ELO 1582 points and a former VCA student turned coach. She has won many district-level events, despite learning the game late in her life. As a coach, one of the things she enjoys is answering tricky questions of the students.
Mr. Aditya Gadre holds the title of AFM (Arena FIDE Master) from FIDE. He has an international rating of ELO 1674 points. Aditya holds coaching experience of 4+ years. His coaching style is to cultivate an interest for the game in his students and to help them understand the basics well.
Mr. Avinash Sukhwani, with over 3 years of coaching experience, is a favorite beginners' coach at the academy. Known for his excellent communication and unique teaching style, he enjoys passing on his chess knowledge to children.
To boost chess performance, we offer lectures, seminars, and thorough training in time management, stress management, and strategic thinking. Our teachers regularly brainstorm to refine coaching methods and track progress. Through regular testing, players pinpoint areas for improvement and focus their practice.
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