Ratheesh, Founder & Coach of Mind Squares
Meet Your Chess Coach“Calm Mind, Sharp Moves” isn’t just our tagline, it’s the heart of how we teach chess. Discover the journey, philosophy, and approach of your coach, combining years of chess mastery with focus, mindfulness, and strategy development.
MY CHESS JOURNEY
"My name is Ratheesh, founder and coach at Mind Squares, based in Reading, UK. My journey with chess began more than two decades ago. What started as a childhood fascination with the 64 squares evolved into a lifelong passion for strategy, focus and self-mastery."
My approach to chess coaching is unique because I believe that true mastery comes not just from memorizing openings or calculating variations, but from developing a calm, focused mind that can see patterns and possibilities clearly.
As a long-time volunteer with the Art of Living Foundation, I’ve seen how meditation, breathing techniques, and yoga can transform people’s clarity and confidence. I bring this same philosophy into chess coaching; helping students develop not only skills on the board, but also focus and resilience off it.
Our Teaching Philosophy
How I help students achieve clarity and excellence
I teach students to approach each position with a calm, clear mind. Before calculating moves, we learn to breathe, center ourselves, and see the board with fresh eyes. This mindful approach leads to better decision-making and fewer blunders.
Every student is unique. I adapt my teaching style to match each person's learning preferences, whether they're a visual learner who benefits from pattern recognition or an analytical mind who loves deep calculation.
Theory without practice is incomplete. We work through real game positions, analyze famous games, and practice techniques that you can immediately apply in your own games, whether casual or competitive.
The skills we develop in chess - patience, strategic thinking, emotional regulation, and graceful handling of both victory and defeat - are invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the chessboard.
Memory: Bangalore Chess Tournament Final — Winner (Bangalore - India, 2019)
Memory: At the Global Chess League with GM R Praggnanandhaa (London, Oct 2024)