Renjith Balakrishnan : The Man Behind India’s Growing Chess Ecosystem

Many dream of working at tech giants like Meta, Yahoo, and Salesforce. Renjith Balakrishnan did it—for nearly 15 years. But a speech by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam reminded him that true impact came from giving back to his community. Inspired, he left his secure corporate job to build something meaningful, not for himself, but for others.How a Family Favor Became a MissionRenjith’s journey began in early 2020. A relative, who was a chess coach, struggled during the pandemic. Renjith and his friend Deepak Subramani, both IIM Bangalore grads, made a simple flyer selling online chess classes. Overnight, Renjith’s inbox filled with inquiries. Despite having no infrastructure, he quickly responded, organized sessions, and learned about running an academy. Demand surged, but structure didn’t exist. So Renjith registered the company in the U.S., enabling faster payment processing than in India. He assembled a core team, transformed the idea into a formal business, and officially launched the Premier Chess Academy (PCA). Today, PCA supports over 150 individuals, including coaches, admins, and counselors.Building More Than an Academy—A Chess EcosystemRenjith had a bigger vision. PCA isn’t just about teaching chess; it’s about dignified livelihoods and respect for everyone involved. PCA coaches earn more than engineers, and the community includes inspiring figures like Paralympian coach Mohammed Salih. Success online led to PCA offline. In 2022, they set up a kiosk at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, connecting with players from around the world. By October, PCA opened its first physical centre in Trivandrum, Kerala, moving chess from digital to grassroots reality.Hosting Tournaments & Raising StakesTeaching alone wasn’t enough. PCA wanted to energize the chess ecosystem with tournaments. In November 2023, they hosted the World Chess Fiesta, offering a ₹2.7 lakh prize pool. The success of this event set the stage for their biggest venture yet, the Kerala Chess Premier League (KCPL), with a ₹25 lakh prize fund and 14 chess hubs across Kerala. If this model thrives, it could pave the way for a national chess league. Renjith’s ambition goes far beyond chess. Through PCA’s sister initiatives Yabot, Strawket, and ActivePass, children are exploring sports, creative thinking, and life skills. Guided by images of chess pieces and designed by batchmate Dinesh KK, these programs nurture well-rounded young minds. A Blueprint for India’s Growing Chess PassionIndia, home to chess legends, still needs inclusive access and strong grassroots support. PCA aims to serve all states equally, not just chess powerhouses. By empowering coaches, hosting tournaments, and inspiring future generations, PCA is a model for creating shared opportunities and success. Renjith once had a prestigious job, but he chose meaning instead. His goal: create 100 jobs through his business. Today, PCA stands at the cusp of that goal not because of ambition alone, but because of purpose. His story shows us that it doesn't matter if the road is challenging; what matters is choosing purpose over convenience. We all carry a dream. And sometimes, the bravest thing to do is to act on it.