Gyan Awatramani
Coach's biography
Gyan Awatramani HCIMA, BAHA, a graduate of Oxford Brookes University, UK, has a background in international hospitality finance, and private wealth management. He is fascinated by the complex dynamics of human nature, psychology, and the infinite beauty of chess. Linking these worlds, by introducing fundamental, conceptual, and strategic abstractions of the game is his passion.
A serendipitous encounter with Maxim Doroshenko at a local chess tournament forged a collaboration, that culminated in the opening of the Vancouver Chess School. With 16 years of teaching experience, he has coached students at all levels, including his son Janak Awatramani , who have placed well in regional, provincial, and international tournaments.
In 2019 in partnership with the CMA he organized the 31st Canadian Chess Challenge at the Marine Drive Ballroom at UBC, which for the first time in the history of this tournament, was held in Vancouver. He has been managing the National Preparation Programme and has coordinated training sessions for the BC Provincial Team over the last few years for the Canadian Chess Challenge. He has also served as Chief Arbiter for the BC vs Washington Intermat in previous years and currently facilitates the BC Regionals, Provincials, and numerous other tournaments throughout the year, as well as social events for the VCS community, including the annual summer picnic, and the end of year Christmas gala.
The US head of delegation at the North American Youth Championships, held in Mexico described him “as a very pleasant person with all and a perfect ambassador for Canada.” Canada won 2 gold and 2 silver medals that year. More recently, it was a privilege to have GM Alexey Kuzmin, coach of former World Champion, GM Anatoly Karpov attended one of his classes: "Thank you very much, Gyan for the possibility to watch your lesson. It was interesting and useful for me. I wish a lot of wins to all of your students!"
Chess in his opinion is a powerful tool available to strengthen the mind, that enhances focus, concentration, resilience, and patience, as well as creativity, intuition, and memory. He places great emphasis on a growth mindset, sportsmanship, discipline, and work ethic as a measurement of success.
Gyan Awatramani was recently featured in:
CBC Radio Interview:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/15811044-vancouver-chess-school
Globe and Mail:
Canadian Chess Challenge Opening Ceremony
Canadian Chess Challenge: Chinese Television Coverage
Consultant Director:
Netflix series, The 100, Episode: "Queen's Gambit."
Credit Karma, an American multinational financial management company.
