Shanvi Ballal

I've been playing competitive chess for 14 years, and it's been a huge part of my life. I got my

FIDE rating when I was just 9, and since then I've worked my way up to Arena FIDE Master.

Along the way, I've won a Karnataka State Championship, made it to the podium at plenty of

tournaments, and represented my state at nationals five times through SGFI. Having started so

young myself, I understand what it's like to learn chess as a kid. The excitement, the

frustrations, and how to keep it fun while building real skills. I genuinely enjoy working with

young players and helping them discover their own love for the game.