Coach Aryan Srivastava brings an impressive combination of competitive achievement, academic ambition, and genuine love for teaching to SV Chess Academy. Born in India, raised across England and back, and immigrating to the United States at age 7, Aryan’s international upbringing has given him a natural ability to connect with students from all walks of life.
Aryan’s chess journey began at 14, when his grandfather introduced him to the game and his father encouraged him to compete. He took that foundation and ran with it — reaching a 2200 online rating, winning multiple over-the-board cash prize tournaments, and building the kind of deep competitive and strategic experience that only years of serious play can develop.
Off the board, Aryan is currently pursuing a degree in Machine Learning Engineering — a field built on the same analytical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving that makes great chess players great. That unique perspective shapes everything about how he teaches.
His coaching philosophy centers on patience, discipline, and growth. He works with children starting as young as age 3, creating positive, engaging, and supportive learning environments where students don’t just improve at chess — they learn how to focus, adapt, compete, and carry themselves with confidence. What drives him most is watching young students develop not only as players, but as thinkers and individuals.