♟️ About Sri Chess Academy

Sri Chess Academy is a chess training and tournament-organizing academy in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It works with young players, beginners and experienced competitors, combining structured chess instruction with opportunities to play in local, state-level and FIDE-rated competitions. The academy has become an established presence in the city's over-the-board chess activities. Its work covers chess coaching, youth development and tournament organization. Alongside regular training, Sri Chess Academy stages competitive events where students can put their opening preparation, calculation and endgame technique into practice. The academy also cooperates with other organizers to bring larger rated tournaments to Visakhapatnam. Vappangi Srikanth is the academy's director and a FIDE Arbiter (FA). The training team includes coaches with experience in competitive chess and working with developing players. Through its combination of coaching and organized events, Sri Chess Academy creates a pathway from introductory chess to serious tournament participation.

🏫 Chess Coaching and Player Development

The academy offers chess instruction for players at different levels. Its teaching focuses on strategic thinking, tactical calculation, practical decision-making and tournament preparation. Students can develop a stronger understanding of chess positions while learning how to apply their knowledge under the pressure of competitive play. The coaching team includes D. Appanna, Kameshwar Sarma, Raviteja Kanakala, Veera Varaprasad and Y. Pavan Kumar. The academy brings together trainers who work with beginners and more advanced players. This allows students to progress from the rules and elementary tactics to deeper game analysis and competitive preparation. Srikanth's approach also draws on his background in psychology. The academy places importance on concentration, discipline and resilience, alongside the technical aspects of chess. These qualities matter particularly in longer tournament games, when players must manage their clock, maintain focus and recover from difficult positions.

🏆 FIDE-Rated Tournament Organization

Sri Chess Academy organizes rated chess competitions in Visakhapatnam, including classical events at S3 Sports Arena. Its tournaments have brought together players from several Indian states and, on occasion, from abroad. The events provide valuable practical experience for juniors seeking their first rating as well as established players aiming to improve their results. The 2nd Sri Chess Academy Rating Open took place from January 25–28, 2024, with 413 players competing over eight classical rounds. Mummana Venkata Ruthvik won with an unbeaten 7.5/8, finishing ahead of Ashutosh Kumar. The tournament demonstrated the academy's ability to run a multi-day rated competition with a large field. The 3rd Sri Chess Academy Below 1800 Rating Tournament followed on January 24–26, 2025. The nine-round event drew 391 players to S3 Sports Arena. Kavinkumar G won the championship with 8.5/9, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.

📅 Established Tournament Activity

Sri Chess Academy's tournament work extends beyond its numbered rating-open series. The academy organized the Dr. Rangala Babu Rao Rating Open 2024 in Visakhapatnam from November 27 to December 1. That event attracted 345 players and featured nine classical rounds. Bhaavan Kolla won with 8.5/9. In December 2025, Sri Chess Academy joined forces with Chaitanya Chess Academy to organize the International FIDE Open Rating Chess Tournament at S3 Sports Arena. More than 570 players took part in the eight-round classical competition. The event attracted participants from across India and several other countries, showing the wider reach of chess tournaments hosted in Visakhapatnam. For December 10–13, 2026, the two academies are organizing the VYBEN International Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament. This eight-round classical Swiss event has a ₹700,000 total prize fund and continues their partnership in staging substantial rated chess competitions.

🎓 Schools and Junior Chess

Junior development is an important part of the academy's activities. Its training and tournament programmes encourage children to build practical playing skills, learn competitive discipline and gain experience against opponents of different strengths. In June 2025, Sri Chess Academy organized the Visakhapatnam District Under-15 Open and Girls Chess Selections on behalf of the All Visakha Chess Association. The competition took place at BVK College. It attracted 146 players in the Open category and 59 in the Girls category, with seven and six rounds respectively. These district selections helped identify participants for the Andhra Pradesh State Under-15 Championship. The academy has also been involved in inter-school chess events, bringing organized competition into the educational setting and helping young players become familiar with tournament procedures.

🤝 Partnerships and Chess Community

Sri Chess Academy works with the All Visakha Chess Association, the Andhra Chess Association and event partners in the region. Its collaborations help connect coaching with the wider competitive chess infrastructure, including arbiters, rated tournaments and district-level competitions. S3 Sports Arena has hosted several academy competitions, from large classical rating events to special-category tournaments. The venue's indoor facilities provide a recurring setting for rated chess in Visakhapatnam. The academy also cooperates with schools and fellow chess organizations when staging youth events. This community-based approach allows developing players to gain experience locally. Meanwhile, the academy's larger tournaments attract established competitors from outside the district and create stronger fields for players preparing for state and national events.

🌟 Tournament Experience and Achievements

The academy's record includes large classical tournaments, rating-restricted competitions, district youth selections and collaborative international opens. Its 2024 and 2025 tournaments each welcomed several hundred players, demonstrating its ability to coordinate substantial events over multiple days. Competitive play and coaching reinforce one another in Sri Chess Academy's programme. Students can develop their skills through lessons and analysis, then test those skills in structured tournaments. For other players in Andhra Pradesh, the academy's event calendar provides additional opportunities to pursue rated over-the-board chess.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Vappangi Srikanth leads Sri Chess Academy as its director. He is a FIDE Arbiter and is involved in coaching and tournament administration in Visakhapatnam. His role links the academy's instructional work with its wider competition programme. Alongside its coaching staff and event partners, Sri Chess Academy continues to support chess participation in the region through training, youth championships and FIDE-rated tournaments. Its emphasis on both player development and practical competition gives the organization a distinct role in the local chess community.