What do you think makes you a good coach?
Having competed at national and international level, I understand what it takes to develop as a chess player — from learning the fundamentals through to preparing for serious tournament competition. However, I believe being a strong player and being a strong coach are two different things.
What makes me a good coach is my ability to turn complex chess ideas into clear, practical concepts that young players can understand and use in their own games. I look carefully at each student's play to identify where they can improve, particularly in areas such as the middlegame and endgame, and then tailor my coaching to their individual needs.
My goal is not simply to show students which moves to play. I want to help them understand why a move works, how to evaluate a position, and how to think independently over the board.
What are your key strengths?
- Pattern recognition – Years of competitive chess have developed my ability to quickly recognise tactical patterns, positional ideas, and opportunities on the board.
- Individualised coaching – I identify where each student's understanding is strongest and where development is needed, then adapt my teaching accordingly.
- Clear explanations – I enjoy taking difficult chess concepts and making them understandable and practical for young players.
- Tournament experience – Having competed extensively myself, I understand preparation, time pressure, decision-making, and the psychological demands of tournament chess.
- Patience and encouragement – I want students to feel comfortable making mistakes, asking questions, and experimenting with new ideas.
- Building confidence – Improvement is not only about becoming technically stronger. I want students to trust their own thinking and become increasingly independent players.
Why do you love chess?
Chess has taught me discipline, resilience, creativity, and the importance of thinking ahead. What I particularly love is that no matter how long you have played, there is always something more to learn. A familiar position can contain a new idea, and a single move can completely change the direction of a game.
Coaching has given me another reason to love chess. I now get to watch young players experience their own moments of discovery — spotting a tactic they would previously have missed, understanding a difficult concept, or successfully using an idea we have worked on together.
Seeing a student realise “I can do this” is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.
When and how did you first learn to play?
I first learned chess at school when I was in Grade 3. What began as a school activity quickly developed into a serious passion.
I joined the school chess team and began competing in tournaments, gradually progressing through increasingly competitive levels of chess. I later had the privilege of captaining the Mahanama College chess team for five consecutive years.
Chess became an important part of my life from a young age, and the lessons I learned through competition — preparation, discipline, patience, and learning from setbacks — continue to influence the way I approach challenges today.
Why do you enjoy working with kids?
Young players bring an incredible amount of energy, curiosity, and creativity to chess. They are often willing to experiment with ideas and take chances on the board, which makes coaching them particularly enjoyable.
Through guiding junior school teams with tournament preparation and match strategy, I have seen how much difference the right encouragement and guidance can make. Sometimes a child needs a new chess concept; at other times, they simply need someone to help them recognise what they are already capable of.
I particularly enjoy those breakthrough moments when something suddenly makes sense to a student and you can see their confidence grow alongside their chess ability.
What are your main chess achievements?
I have competed extensively at school, provincial, national, and international-rating events, both individually and as part of successful teams. Some of my key achievements include:
- Sri Lanka Open International Rating Chess Championship – Champion, Unrated and Under-15 category.
- All Island Inter-School Championships – Sri Lanka Schools Chess Association – Multiple championship titles across Divisions A and B, including individual board prizes and team championships.
- Western Province Chess Championship – Ministry of Education – Under-20 Team Champion.
- All Island Chess Championship – Ministry of Education – Second runner-up, Under-20 Team category.
- Mahanama College Chess Team – Captain for five consecutive years.
- Mahanama College Colours Night – Awarded Merit and Colours for outstanding contribution to chess.
These experiences have given me an understanding of chess from several perspectives — as an individual competitor, a teammate, and a captain. They have also taught me the importance of preparation, teamwork, handling pressure, learning from losses, and performing with confidence when it matters.
How do you think chess helps kids?
Chess develops skills that extend well beyond the chessboard. It encourages critical thinking, concentration, problem-solving, planning, and independent decision-making. Children learn to consider different possibilities, anticipate consequences, and take responsibility for the decisions they make.
Just as importantly, chess teaches resilience. Every player loses games and makes mistakes. Chess gives children repeated opportunities to analyse what happened, learn from it, and return to the board better prepared next time.
It also provides something very tangible: children can see themselves improving. A position they once found confusing becomes understandable; a tactic they once missed becomes something they recognise immediately. That experience can teach young people that ability is not fixed — focused practice, persistence, and a willingness to learn can produce real improvement.