Welcome to Great Minds Chess Academy

Where Champions Begin Journey

Structured training by Grandmasters to develop skills, strategy, confidence, and winning mindset in every student

Grandmaster Thejkumar

About Great Minds Chess Academy (GMCA)

Great Minds Chess Academy is a premier institution focused on nurturing young chess talent and building future champions. Guided by Grandmaster Thej Kumar MS—Karnataka’s first Grandmaster and a nationally recognized champion—the academy offers structured, high-quality training.

Our programs are designed and led by Grandmaster coaches, ensuring every student receives clear, progressive, and performance-focused learning.

Trained Students

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Yearly Online Classes

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Games Played

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Legacy In Chess

Grandmaster Profile Overview

Grandmaster Thejkumar

Grandmaster Thejkumar, the first GM from Karnataka, began learning chess at 12 under his father’s guidance. He achieved IM and GM norms between 2007–2008 and crossed the 2500+ rating mark in 2017, earning the Grandmaster title at 36.

He won the Indian National B Championship (2013) and National U-25 Championship (2003), along with international titles like Liffre Open (2016) and Guingamp Open (2017). In 2018, he won the Karnataka State Open Rapid Championship with a perfect 9/9 score, and later served on the appeals committee for the 14th National Schools Chess Championship (2025).

Our Classes

Learn & Improve with Our Great Classes

We believe chess is for everyone, which is why we offer structured classes for all ages and skill levels.

Beginner Level

Learn fundamentals, rules, piece movement, and basic strategies.

Advanced Beginner

Build tactical awareness, opening ideas, and essential game planning.

Intermediate Level

Improve calculation, positional understanding, and structured game strategies.

Advanced Level

Master complex tactics, deep strategies, and competitive tournament play.

Expert Level

Refine mastery, advanced preparation, and high-level competitive performance.

Why Partner With GMCA?

Complete support from setup to success

We welcome everyone—from curious beginners learning their first moves to competitive players sharpening their strategies.

01.

Grandmaster Led Growth

Access structured Grandmaster-designed curriculum, complete training materials, branding support, and proven systems to build a successful, respected chess academy.

02.

Proven Success System

Leverage our champion-producing model with expert guidance, student development support, and marketing assistance to grow a strong and sustainable venture.

03.

Build With Experts

Join Grandmaster Thej Kumar’s team with standardized curriculum, complete training support, branding and operational guidance, empowering you to build a trusted, scalable, and successful chess academy.

Achievement

Our Students Achievement

Adhiraj Mishra

National Schools & common wealth champion 2025

Adhiraj won the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Under-14 Chess Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking a remarkable international achievement.

He gained 70 rating points, reaching approximately 2132, and became the first-ever Commonwealth Gold Medalist from Jharkhand, setting a historic milestone.

Utkrist Tuli

FIDE World Cup Cadets Under-12 Girls 2025

Utkrist Tuli became the 14th National School Chess Champion 2025, showcasing strong performance and consistent improvement at the national level.

His rating significantly increased within a few months after attending sir’s classes, reflecting focused training and rapid skill development.

Aadya Gowda

National Schools champion 2025

Aadya Gowda wins silver in U12 Chess World Cup 2025, showcasing remarkable excellent performance globally.

She also becomes WCM finally crossing rating barrier of 1800 FIDE, marking proud milestone achievement.

Prasiddhi Bhat

State & district champion, National Schools champion 2025

Prasiddhi Bhat from Mysore won the MPL 11th National School Chess Championship, representing Karnataka in the U-17 girls category with an outstanding performance.

The championship was organized by Ananthi Chess Academy and Viyugam Chess Academy at Adhiyamman College of Engineering.

Join Us

Become Part of Our Community

Become part of a thriving chess community, learn from expert coaches, and unlock your full potential through structured training and competitive opportunities.