FM Ankit Gajwa

FM Ankit Gajwa has coached students to coveted accomplishments in his 8+ years of coaching. His students have achieved prestigious milestones such as winning the Asian U-12 Championship, qualifying for the World Chess Olympiad, earning the FM and IM titles, and gaining hundreds of rating points through targeted improvement. Ankit also holds the FIDE Instructor title, awarded in recognition of his notable contributions to chess coaching.

10+ years of professional experience. Achieved the title of FIDE Master in the year 2015 - Peak FIDE rating - 2335.

With over 6 years of experience as a chess trainer, Ankit has successfully worked with students across all skill levels, from beginners to semi-professionals and professionals. Ankit’s coaching approach is rooted in learning sciences and customized to each student, with a focus on developing a deep understanding of chess, through in-depth analysis of the student's as well elite games, understanding the thought processes and methods that are used by top players and integrating them with the student's thinking process, mastering typical pawn structures and positions, building a powerful and personalized opening repertoire, and developing an excellent command over tactical and strategic foundations.

His training methods have helped many students achieve significant milestones, which includes winning the Asian U-12 Championship, qualifying for the World Chess Olympiad, earning the FM and IM titles, and gaining hundreds of rating points through targeted improvement. Many of his students have won medals in national and continental championships. Ankit also holds the FIDE Instructor title, awarded in recognition of his notable contributions to chess coaching.

My training methods are rooted in learning sciences and follow a structured methodology, designed to accelerate practical chess skill development while also maximising competitive performance in tournaments.

By combining proven techniques with personalized coaching, I create a clear, progressive path that transforms players at every level, from beginners to advanced. My goal is to not only build strong practical and theoretical fundamentals, but also sharpen strategic and positional thinking of the student for all three phases of the game, while also building mental resilience and empowering them to consistently achieve their highest potential on the board. Some of my training methods include:

1) In-depth analysis of one's own games: This plays a crucial role in developing a student's analytical abilities and fostering individuality in their thought process.

2) Solving thematic positions based on the strengths and weaknesses of the student: These positions are carefully selected to target specific areas for improvement. For example, a student struggling with calculating forcing lines can benefit greatly from solving chess compositions, while someone who feels lost in non-forcing positions could learn from studying games by masters like Karpov and Smyslov.

3) Understanding and reflecting upon the thought process of masters: By analyzing classics and important game fragments, students develop pattern recognition, which is essential for subconscious decision-making and strategic thinking.

4) Developing an understanding of typical structures: Focused primarily on structures within a student's repertoire, the training also aims to impart knowledge about all major structures, broadening the student's strategic foundation.

5) Building an opening repertoire tailored to the student's style and preferences: It's vital that openings align with a player's natural style. Students must not only understand their openings but also genuinely enjoy playing them, which enhances their engagement and results. Ankit's method emphasizes this harmony between style and opening choices.

6) Imparting knowledge of chess "essentials": The learning process is divided into skill development and knowledge acquisition. While skill development is the primary focus, knowledge of essentials, such as key endgame positions like Lucena, Vancura, Philidor, and Rook-Bishop vs. Rook, forms the foundation of a well-rounded chess education.

7) Development of the student's own perception of chess: Addressing psychological challenges like time management, mental clarity before games, playing for specific results, and dealing with external influences is a key part of Ankit's training, ensuring students overcome common hurdles effectively.

8) Balancing intuition and calculation: This is a critical skill in chess and goes beyond simply calculating deeply. Ankit's methods emphasize understanding when to calculate and when to rely on intuition, striking the right balance between analytical precision and instinctive decision-making.