Nandhini Saripalli

NANDHINI SARIPALLI is our Chess Educator for the month of December and it's no wonder why! With an incredible passion for chess, this Girl Boss not only plays chess professionally, but is also a FIDE Arbiter and has made it her mission to inspire and empower more girls along the way! She works hard to ensure that her students learn lessons about life on the chessboard and then apply them in their day to day lives. Check out the full Girl Boss Chess Chat with Nandhini Saripalli Find out what her greatest passions are (other than chess), what she believes constitutes the Girl Boss Method and her greatest hope for the future!

Check out the full chat with Nandhini Saripalli Find out what her greatest passions are (other than chess), what she believes constitutes the Girl Boss Method and her greatest hope for the future!

1) When did you first learn to play chess and what made you fall in love with the game?

I first learnt to play chess at the age of eight. My father, being very passionate about the game, introduced my brother and me to chess. I always enjoyed playing chess as a child; I guess it also helped me prove myself. I truly fell in love with chess only later, when I matured and understood how life and chess are so similar.

2) What has your experience of competing in professional chess tournaments been like as a woman?

All my life, I have always competed in Open Events. As for my experience as a woman, I have had to put in double the work to prove myself and my strength. Female players just aren’t given as much respect. So yes, I love playing good games & proving everyone wrong!

3) What has your experience as a FIDE Arbiter been like in general, and also as a woman?

I love arbitrating. It helps me nourish my decision-making skills and I get to learn so much about human behaviour in the process. Additionally, it helps me complete 10K steps daily and I can’t argue against that. As a woman it has been great; I haven’t had any hiccups as of yet.

4) Other than chess, what are your passions in life?

I love sports overall. When I was younger, physical sports like swimming, table tennis, and cricket kept me busy. I have always loved art too. Nowadays, in my spare time, I draw, read, write and create content on the internet, based on my life experiences. Content creation has become my new love!

5) What motivated you to begin to teach chess to others?

I have always loved teaching. I used to teach my classmates in college, whenever they needed help. And when it came to teaching chess, my brother and I noticed that most kids nowadays have coaches, which is great, but their fundamentals are pretty weak compared to previous generations. My brother and myself learnt chess on our own, and we decided that we had to now help the next generation learn chess comprehensively, just like we did. That’s when we first started teaching chess together, using our own style and methods.

6) What do you hope your students will take away from your classes?

Firstly, I really hope my students gain the chess knowledge I am keen to provide.

Secondly, there is so much to learn about life through chess and I hope they learn some important life lessons from this beautiful game. It has hugely benefited me in my life, personally.

7) What do you struggle with in life and how do you work to overcome that?

Healing from sexual abuse experiences as child is one of my struggles today.

Converting my pain into a voice to comfort others on their healing journey has been helping me accept the past, forgive myself and not let the past control my emotions today. It’s a gradual process and I know I will get through it!

8) What is your greatest ambition or hope for the future?

I want to simply live a fulfilling life with no regrets!

9) What do you want to say to girls who don’t feel like chess is for them?

Chess is for everyone, regardless of age, gender, religion or race. That’s the beauty of chess. As long as you are determined, consistent and you put in the work, you can achieve anything you want to. So, don’t give up!

10) In one sentence, what is a Girl Boss to you?

The Girl Boss Method is a way to empower young girls to be their best selves.

Featured Blog