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Ramachandran Ramesh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 April 1976

Age47 Years

BirthplaceChennai, India

ProfessionChess Grandmaster, Chess Coach, Author

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAarthie Ramaswam

FamilySon - Karthik Ramesh; Daughter - Varsha Ramesh

Ramachandran Ramesh Biography

Indian Grandmaster Ramachandran Ramesh is a prominent chess coach, author and former competitive player from Chennai. A mentor to several young Indian prod

Early life and background

Ramachandran Ramesh was born on 20 April 1976 in Chennai, India. Raised in that city, he completed his schooling at Shrine Vailankanni Senior Secondary School and later graduated from the University of Madras. He began playing chess at age twelve, inspired by Viswanathan Anand's success, and steadily progressed through the competitive ranks during his youth.

Playing career and titles

Ramesh climbed the FIDE title ladder in the 1990s, earning the FIDE Master title in 1995 and International Master in 1996. He represented India in team events, including playing for the Indian chess team in 1996, and continued to compete internationally into the 2000s. He won notable events such as the British Championship in 2002 and the Commonwealth Championship in 2007. FIDE awarded him the Grandmaster title in 2004.

Coaching and Chess Gurukul

From the late 1990s Ramesh moved into coaching, beginning work with young players in Chennai. His early pupils included his future wife, Aarthie Ramaswam, and after a period assisting her he started offering private lessons from his home. In 2008 he left his position at Indian Oil Corporation and stepped back from full-time tournament play to found Chess Gurukul in T. Nagar, Chennai. The academy developed into one of India's most successful training centres for juniors, producing multiple international champions and contributing to India’s strong results at youth world events. Notable students associated with his academy include R Praggnanandhaa and Bharath Subramaniyam.

Writing and public commentary

Ramesh has extended his influence in chess through writing and commentary. He provided widely viewed official commentary during the 2013 World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, raising his international profile. He published his first book, Fundamental Chess: Logical Decision Making, in September 2021. His second book, Improve Your Chess Calculation: The Ramesh Chess Course — Volume 1, appeared in May 2022 and went on to earn industry recognition, including the Book of the Year Award and a Best New Author award from Chessable in 2022.

Awards and recognition

Over the years Ramesh has received multiple awards for his coaching and contributions to chess. He was named Coach of the Year by The Sportstar in 2020 and received the Sports Coach of the Year Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in 2022. That same year he received additional honours such as the Talent Creator Award from Sri Chandrasekhrendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya University and a Champions of Chennai recognition in 2018. In January 2024 he was a recipient of the Dronacharya Award in chess, a national-level coaching honour.

Public profile

Ramesh is commonly known by nicknames including R.B. Ramesh, and has been described in media and commentary circles with labels such as Master Shifu and the Pep Guardiola of chess. He is based in Chennai and continues to be active in coaching and authoring instructional material. Outside of chess, he is a dog lover.

Personal life

Ramesh is married to Aarthie Ramaswam, who is also a chess Grandmaster. The couple married on 29 August 2003 and have two children: a son, Karthik, and a daughter, Varsha. He is Indian by nationality and follows Hinduism. Ramesh’s physical profile is listed at about 1.75 m (5'9"), with black eyes and grey hair.

Latest updates

In recent years Ramesh has continued to publish instructional material and receive awards for coaching and writing. His second book earned the Book of the Year and Best New Author accolades in 2022, and he was a Dronacharya Award recipient in January 2024. Chess Gurukul remains a central part of his work developing young chess talent.
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Recent Work

Improve Your Chess Calculation: The Ramesh Chess Course — Volume 1

Instructional book focused on improving calculation skills in chess.

2022
Fundamental Chess: Logical Decision Making

Guide on making logical decisions in chess.

2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Awarded the Dronacharya Award in chess (January 2024)
  2. FIDE Grandmaster title (2004)
  3. Winner, British Championship (2002)
  4. Winner, Commonwealth Championship (2007)
  5. Founded Chess Gurukul academy in T. Nagar, Chennai (2008)
  6. Coach of the Year award by The Sportstar (2020)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ramachandran Ramesh born?

20 April 1976

What is Ramachandran Ramesh known for?

Chess Grandmaster, Chess Coach, Author

What is Ramachandran Ramesh’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ramachandran Ramesh married to?

Aarthie Ramaswam