What this Katni class is
ChessWize is a live online chess class for children aged 5–15, offered to families in Katni. A named coach teaches on a video call and shared digital board; this is not an in-person branch.
ChessWize is online only and has no local centre in Katni.
Who the format fits
It fits families with a beginner through a rated player who can keep a recurring IST time agreed after the level check, want a group capped at six or a one-to-one lesson, and want one regular coach. It does not fit a family that needs a walk-in classroom in Katni.
Katni Chess Coaching Parents Can Check Before They Commit
Katni families know the trade-off well. The railway junction connects the district to everything, yet specialist chess coaching across eastern Madhya Pradesh is limited, and the usual answer is a weekly run to Jabalpur. ChessWize removes that condition. Your child learns live with a coach from home, on a real shared board, with direct interaction rather than recorded video. Classes run on India Standard Time in windows that wrap around school hours, so serious training fits an ordinary Katni week.
Your child starts with a Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit, so placement reflects how they actually play. From there they join a skill-matched batch of 4-6 similarly-rated students or work one-to-one in the 1:1 Analyst Protocol. Coaches include Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta and Aryan Pal. One promise applies whatever the format: the same coach takes your child every session, with no rotation, so week twelve builds directly on week one.
The results parents describe reach beyond chess. One mother says in her video, 'I can see the improvement in her concentration and the confidence level', offering her own observation of her daughter. You track the chess side through a Weekly WhatsApp report for every student, so you always know what was taught and what comes next. Over 1000 students coached and 1500 parents. Review after the round matters as much as the round itself.
Chess in Katni: school players and a local International Master
Katni has a named example for children curious about serious chess: Wikipedia records International Master Akshat Khamparia as born in the city. A ChessBase India interview also has International Master Anuj Shrivatri saying he is from Katni. At school level, the Sansad Khel Mahotsav Below-19 list includes DPS,Katni and Sacred Heart Public School. That record, last updated on 20 December 2025, is a useful conversation starter with a school when a child wants organised games beyond home practice.
Who runs junior chess here
- MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee. Katni families can use the AICF affiliates list to identify this state member body when asking about later circulars. [4]
Events a child from Katni can enter
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Sansad Khel Mahotsav, Katni (Below19)
List updated 20 December 2025 · Katni
The below-19 starting list includes DPS,Katni and Sacred Heart Public School, showing school representation in this youth event. [1]
Players from Katni
From online class to a first tournament
- Ask your school about youth chess participation, referring to the Sansad Khel Mahotsav Katni Below-19 record.
- Check the age cutoff and entry arrangements rather than treating a below-19 title as automatic eligibility for a younger child.
- Pair online games with practice moving the pieces and pressing the clock on a physical board.
- Bring completed tournament games to a review session and pick a small improvement to practise afterwards.
Good to know
- The 20 December 2025 date on the Katni Below-19 record is its update date, not a confirmed playing date.
Sources (checked 2026-09-28)
- [1] Chess-results page for Sansad Khel Mahotsav, Katni (Below19)
- [2] ChessBase India report on a Madhya Pradesh International Master title
- [3] FIDE profile listing the International Master title
- [4] Affiliates – All India Chess Federation
- [5] Wikipedia page on the first International Master from Central India
Class times for Katni
Every class runs live on India Standard Time. India does not observe daylight saving, so there is no clock change to track: the times you agree now are the times you keep all year. Coach availability windows for Katni include 9:30 AM-1:30 PM IST, 10:30 AM-2:30 PM IST, 11:30 AM-2:30 PM IST, 12:30-5:30 PM IST, 1:30-4:30 PM IST, 2:30-5:30 PM IST, 4:30-9:30 PM IST and 5:30-8:30 PM IST. Once your child's weekly slot is fixed with a coach, that slot stays fixed.
Published weekly schedule in Indian Standard Time (Asia/Kolkata), as of 2026-09-05
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Window | Family time | Coach time |
|---|---|---|
| Family-agreed weekly class | Recurring time agreed after the level check (IST) | The same IST appointment for the family and coach |
What Katni parents pay
Regular classes run from ₹375 to ₹1,000 per live class. The starter pack is ₹2,500 for 8 classes.
Prices are the INR list recorded in the pricing source as of 2026-09-29; unused sessions follow the published Refund policy.
Read the full courses and fees page →The coaching roster parents can check
No coach is assigned to Katni merely because this is a city page. These are the national roster details published in the coaching data; the demo confirms the actual match for a child.
Hrdyansh Pandey
Ages 5–15 · Foundation, tactical, and tournament-prep tracks
Languages: English, Hindi
Tarun Gupta
All ages · Curriculum design + senior cohort coaching
Languages: English, Hindi
Aryan Pal
Ages 5–10 · Beginner foundations
Languages: English, Hindi
What the curriculum covers
Four phases: learn the board and legal moves; finish a complete game; use opening principles; find basic tactics and endings.
Recorded programme results
As of 2026-07-13, the trust record lists 1,000 students coached and 1,500 parents, with 4 district finishers in a cohort of 12 and an average of 4 months to a first tournament. These are past records, not a promise for one child.
How classes run
Your child keeps the same coach in a supervised small group, and a parent can sit in on any lesson. Read the full policy on the child safety page.
At home you need a laptop or tablet with a webcam and stable internet. Classes run in the browser. Setup details are on the online chess classes page.
The first meeting is a free 30-minute level check. Paid classes start only after you enrol and agree a recurring time.
The four published commitments
- Same coach every session — no rotation
- Full refund within 48 hours of enrolling on a monthly plan
- Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit
- Weekly WhatsApp report for every student
Refund wording is on the refund policy.
Eleven checks to make before enrolling
Each answer below is tied to the section that carries its proof, so a parent can verify the detail rather than rely on a slogan.
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Check 1
Who teaches my child, and are they rated?
Your child is taught live by experienced coaches, not recorded videos. Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta, and Aryan Pal. Placement follows the complimentary 30-min level check, so the coach assigned matches your child's current playing level from the first class.
See coaches -
Check 2
How many children share the coach?
Group batches hold strictly 4-6 similarly-rated students, so the coach teaches children who are genuinely at the same level. That size keeps peer play intense but ensures your child is never a spectator. If you prefer full attention, the 1:1 Analyst Protocol gives one coach to one child, mapping the current game and targeting the highest-value gap each session.
See class size -
Check 3
Is there a real curriculum from beginner to rated play?
Yes. Levels run from ages 5-8, ages 9-12 and ages 13-15, through beginner, intermediate and advanced, to tournament prep and rating improvement. Each stage has named milestones: beginners finish complete games and use opening principles; intermediates choose candidate moves and read positional clues; advanced students convert training into events. Your child moves up on demonstrated play, not time served.
See the curriculum -
Check 4
How will I know it is working?
You get a Weekly WhatsApp report for every student. It tells you what was taught, how your child handled it and what the next session targets, so you can follow progress even if you never play chess yourself. One mother says in her video, 'I can see the improvement in her concentration and the confidence level.'
See progress reports -
Check 5
Is it safe, and can I see the classes?
Classes are live and online, so your child trains from home, inside your own house, and you can sit within earshot of any session. Teaching is direct interaction with a named coach rather than recorded content. Because the same coach takes every session, the adult on screen each week is the adult you met at the level check.
Read safety policy -
Check 6
Can we try before paying?
Yes. The Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit is free. The coach assesses where your child stands, you watch how the teaching actually works, and you test the technology and timing on your connection in Katni before any payment. Only if the session convinces both sides do you choose a batch or 1:1 slot.
See the level check -
Check 7
What if we stop?
ChessWize monthly plans in Katni use a 48-hour full-refund window from enrolling, then a pro-rated amount minus sessions attended before the 3rd session, after which the current month is not refunded and cancelling stops later billing. If your child stops a term package, a pro-rated refund is available within 7 days of enrolling, and the complimentary 30-min level check before you commit puts those windows in view.
See refund terms -
Check 8
Will the timings fit our week?
Classes run on IST windows built around a Katni school week: mornings from 9:30 AM-1:30 PM, midday options such as 12:30-5:30 PM and 1:30-4:30 PM, and evenings like 4:30-9:30 PM and 5:30-8:30 PM. India does not observe daylight saving time, so the slot you agree now holds all year, a relief when railway work makes family hours irregular.
See class times -
Check 9
What does it cost, exactly?
Fees start at ₹375 per class, and the Starter pack is ₹2,500 for 8 classes. Both figures are in rupees, published up front. The exact amount for your child depends on the format, group or 1:1, chosen after the complimentary level check, and it is confirmed clearly before any payment leaves your account.
See fees -
Check 10
Is there a path to tournaments?
Chess-results lists a 2025 Katni International Open rapid and a 2026 Raisoni Memorial rapid, plus Sansad Khel Mahotsav Below-19. Ask the MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee about later play, and check the chosen event's requirements. On average, students reach a first tournament in about four months of steady training.
See results -
Check 11
What do I have to do at home?
Home practice stays light and specific. Depending on age, the coach may ask for five to ten focused minutes a day, one slower game saved for class, or a short error log with positions your child found confusing. You are not expected to teach chess yourself; your job is a quiet corner, a charged device, and passing the saved game links to the coach.
See home setup
Watch family videos
Poster, title, speaker, and a one-line summary from the testimonial record. Each card links to its review page.
See every class, not just the fee
Every ChessWize class runs on ChessCore, so you always know what your child is learning.
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Your own parent dashboard
A private page for each child: next class, attendance, homework and progress, in one place.
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Progress you can read
Puzzle accuracy and a rating trend once your child has played enough games, explained in plain words.
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Notes from the coach
After classes the coach shares what your child worked on and what to practise next.
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Attendance and makeups
Every class is logged. If your child misses one, you can see the makeup credit and book it yourself.
No screen recording, keystroke logging or device-location access · classes recorded only with your consent. How we handle your child’s data →
Written reviews from parents
Two parent reviews for this page, with a Katni-tagged record first when the source has one.
★★★★★
The resilience piece was unexpected — and the real win.
“We signed up for chess. What Ishita got was emotional self-regulation. Month one was all about learning to lose without falling apart. By month three she was analysing her own games after tournaments, pointing out where she'd blundered, calmly. Her results followed. But honestly, the composure is what I'll remember.”
Anjana Rao
Mother of Ishita (10) · Mumbai
January 2026
★★★★★
She used to cry after every loss. Not anymore.
“Anika was playing 'casually' on chess.com and hanging pieces every game. First month the coach just drilled Checks-Captures-Threats. The dashboard is what sold me though. I don't know chess, but I can see exactly what she covered each week. Her play sharpened on its own by week eight.”
Monika Iyer
Mother of Anika (11) · Kanpur
February 2026
Google reviews from ChessWize parents
Google rating 5.0 from 21 reviews; the stored set was pulled 2026-07-08.
Anusha
December 2025
★★★★★
Chesswise Academy is an excellent place for kids to learn chess. The trainer is patient, knowledgeable, and focuses on building strong basics. Classes are well-organized and engaging. I can see good improvement in my child’s thinking and confidence. Highly recommend Chesswise Academy for chess learning.
Read on Google →Anisha
June 2026
★★★★★
Coach Ankit has been amazing for my 8-year-old. He’s super friendly and explains chess rules in a way kids actually get. My son looks forward to every Chesswize class now. He motivates him to do better without any pressure, and I’ve seen fast improvement in both his game and confidence. Highly recommend Ankit for young beginners!
Read on Google →Sri
June 2026
★★★★★
Extremely happy with Tarun, he teaches my son really well, explains the topic in child understandable language, very disciplined..Thanks for the wonderful sessions
Read on Google →Why the online format fits Katni
Katni is a major railway junction in eastern Madhya Pradesh and a centre for mineral and limestone-related trade. The city serves a wide surrounding district and connects the Mahakoshal and Vindhya regions.
Specialist coaching choices can be limited across a broad district, and railway-linked work may involve irregular hours. Online classes make a coach available from home without a regular trip to Jabalpur.
Local chess context
Katni schoolchildren can access the wider Madhya Pradesh chess pathway through organised school and federation-linked play. Regular instruction gives them preparation before events and useful analysis after them.
Katni's rail connections are a defining strength, but they also underline its distance from larger coaching markets. A child can train consistently at home and reserve travel for worthwhile over-the-board events.
Online and offline choices
A dependable local offline group is valuable for young children who enjoy physical-board company. Online is a better fit when a specific level or coach is unavailable nearby, or when family shifts make travel uncertain.
See class details, fees and safety information below.
Questions from parents in Katni
Which schools appear in the Katni youth chess record?
The Sansad Khel Mahotsav Katni Below-19 starting list includes DPS,Katni, Sacred Heart Public School and JPV DAV PublicSchool. The record was last updated on 20 December 2025. These school tags can help frame a question to your school about participation, but they do not describe public club sessions or an entry procedure.
Is there a titled player with a direct connection to Katni?
Wikipedia records International Master Akshat Khamparia as born in Katni, Madhya Pradesh. A ChessBase India interview also has International Master Anuj Shrivatri saying he is from Katni, and his FIDE profile lists him as an International Master. That gives children specific local players to read about, while parents can keep the focus on practice and suitable events for their own child.
What is the price of online chess classes in Katni?
ChessWize starts from ₹375 per class. Live formats include one-to-one coaching and groups no larger than six, chosen after checking the child's current level. The free 30-minute demo allows parents to assess communication, technology, and timetable before selecting a paid plan.
Does ChessWize have an offline centre in Katni?
No. There is no physical ChessWize academy in Katni. Experienced coaches teach live over the internet, with direct interaction rather than recorded content. Local school clubs and appropriate in-person events can provide the board and opponent experience that online lessons do not fully reproduce.
Do Katni families need to go to Jabalpur for coaching?
Not for regular ChessWize lessons. The child can train from home and travel only when a suitable over-the-board event or other genuine opportunity justifies it. This is especially useful for district families, since a weekly city-to-city journey can be harder to sustain than the class itself.
How much do online chess classes in Katni cost?
A single class starts at ₹375. Most Katni families take the Starter pack of ₹2,500 for 8 classes. The format you choose, group batch or one-to-one, sets the final figure, and the coach confirms the exact amount before the first paid class. The opening 30-minute demo costs nothing.
Does ChessWize have an offline academy in Katni?
No. ChessWize teaches Katni students live over the internet with a coach, not through recorded videos and not through a local branch. For over-the-board experience, your child can combine weekly online lessons with school clubs and district events in Madhya Pradesh, which supply the physical board and opponent variety that home training cannot fully replace.
Will we still need to travel to Jabalpur for coaching?
Not for regular lessons. Your child trains from home in Katni on a fixed weekly slot, so the repeated city-to-city commute disappears from your routine. Travel is reserved for genuine opportunities, such as a suitable over-the-board tournament or a district event worth the trip. That split, consistent coaching at home and selective travel, is what makes specialist training sustainable for a district family.
Can chess help my child handle losing?
Yes, deliberately. Early months include learning to lose without falling apart: naming blunders calmly, reviewing a lost game and trying again. One ChessWize mother wrote that by month three her daughter was analysing her own games after tournaments and pointing out where she had blundered, calmly. That emotional control is a skill Katni children keep long after the ratings move.
What happens during the free demo session?
The coach runs a 30-minute level check. Your child solves positions and plays while the coach observes how they think, and you watch the teaching style directly. Afterwards the coach explains which level and format suit your child, group batch or 1:1, and answers your questions on timings and fees. Nothing is charged, and you decide at your own pace afterwards.
When will my child be ready for a tournament?
On average about four months of structured training before a first event. Preparation narrows near the date: familiar opening positions, a controlled number of calculation exercises and play at the expected time control. Madhya Pradesh runs school and federation-linked events that Katni children can enter, and the coach helps interpret the event notice so reporting times and equipment are never a surprise.
What ages and levels do you teach?
Levels span ages 5-8, ages 9-12 and ages 13-15, each with its own roadmap, plus beginner, intermediate and advanced stages for older starters. Further along, there are tournament prep and rating improvement tracks, a summer camp online, and both one-to-one and group formats. The complimentary level check places your child on the right rung, whatever their starting point.
Are complete beginners welcome?
Yes. Beginners follow a clear roadmap: learn the board and legal moves, finish a complete game, use opening principles, and find basic tactics and endings. Early home practice stays gentle, a few minutes with the board at a pace that allows thinking. The coach settles any rule confusion with a board example, and the free 30-minute level check confirms your child starts exactly where they are.