CircleChess
 | |
| Industry | Online game |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founders | Kumar Gaurav, Swati Agrawal |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Vishnu Prasanna (Chief Chess Officer), Akash Ganesan (VP of Chess and Content) |
| Products | Caissa AI Coach(Caissa App), Caissa School of Chess, Tournaments |
| Members | 60000+ |
Number of employees | 35+ |
| Website | https://circlechess.com/ |
CircleChess is an Indian technology company focused on chess education and chess tournament management through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Founded in 2023, CircleChess provides AI-powered coaching tools, online classes, and digital infrastructure for organizing chess tournaments. Its goal is to make structured chess learning accessible to players of all levels via technology, expert mentorship, and comprehensive online tools. With the help of the AI applications, learners can study chess from anywhere, at any time, efficiently and accurately.
History
CircleChess was founded in 2023 by Kumar Gaurav and Swati Agrawal. Initially, the company developed an AI-powered chess assistant on the WhatsApp platform, which helped players from registration to participating in tournaments with real-time updates. This assistant's success led to the launch of the Caissa AI Coach (Caissa App), the company's primary learning platform.[1]
After initial success, CircleChess expanded into the fields of formal chess education and tournament management, partnering with chess professionals and organizations to develop its offerings.[2]
Products and services
Caissa AI Coach (Caissa App)
The Caissa AI Coach (also known as the Caissa App) is a chess training application that uses machine learning to provide personalized feedback and instruction. The platform is designed for players at various skill levels and offers tools to analyze games, practice tactical positions, and improve strategic understanding, just like a chess coach.
The application features a dashboard for tracking training progress and performance statistics. It includes a game review tool that imports and analyzes online games from platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.org, providing feedback on tactical and strategic errors. Additional tools include a position trainer that extracts positions from past games for review, a point-based reward system for checking accuracy, a calculation trainer for enhancing board visualization and planning, parental monitoring for checking the child's training progress and an over-the-board (OTB) module for uploading and analyzing physical game scoresheets.[3]
Caissa School of Chess
The Caissa School of Chess offers live online instruction from experienced coaches and advisors, including GM Akash Ganesan, GM R.B. Ramesh, GM Srinath Narayanan and GM Vishnu Prasanna. The curriculum includes structured courses that range from foundational lessons to advanced chess theory, including endgame techniques. The platform also features training sessions with Super Grandmasters to offer a well-rounded learning experience.[4]
Tournaments
CircleChess organizes and manages both online and offline chess tournaments. These events include the CircleChess Rapid Rating Open and the Bullet Bash series, which support a variety of formats and player levels. The company also offers a comprehensive digital platform for managing tournament registrations, pairings, and results.[5]
Sponsorships and events
In 2024, CircleChess became the title sponsor for the "American Gambits" team in the Global Chess League, which demonstrates the company's commitment to promoting competitive chess at the highest levels.[6] The Bullet Bash tournament series featured fast-paced chess with shorter time controls, attracting participants from all around the world. The third edition of the tournament featured a prize pool of ₹1.1 lakh (~US $1,300) and included live commentary and media coverage.[7] The Bangalore Rapid Rating Open 2024, organized by CircleChess on June 1, 2024 attracted approximately 640 participants and featured a total prize fund of ₹200,000.[8]
Programs
The CircleChess Community Partner Program is an initiative designed to bring together passionate chess enthusiasts, players, coaches, and content creators to promote chess education and foster a vibrant global chess community. Through content creation, community engagement, and event collaboration, the community partners help to grow the ecosystem and get access to exclusive tools, rewards and services.
Each community partner receives a unique coupon code that unlocks special benefits for their community, making learning chess more rewarding and accessible than ever.[9]
Partnerships
CircleChess has established partnerships with some of the most prominent figures in the chess world, including world champion Gukesh Dommaraju who serves as an advisor and ambassador for the platform.[10] These collaborations helped to enhance the quality of instructions and content in the company.
Recognition
CircleChess has gained recognition in several prominent Indian media outlets for its innovative use of AI in chess coaching and for expanding access to chess education. Publications such as The Hindu, ChessBase India, and Business Standard have highlighted the company’s efforts to modernize chess training and bring world-class coaching to a broader audience.
References
- ^ "CircleChess Introduces AI Chess Coach(Caissa App) made in India". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "Making a wise move: Bengaluru start-up marries tech and chess". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "Renowned global coaches join hands to build the world's first AI chess coach". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "CircleChess launches Caissa School of Chess to nurture chess talents". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "Gaurang Bagwe clinches 12th CircleChess Rapid Rating Open". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "CircleChess powers American Gambits in Global Chess League Season 2". Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "CircleChess Bullet Bash 3.0 Concludes in Dramatic Fashion". Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "Rahul Sangma dominates 1st CircleChess Rapid Rating Open 2024". Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "CircleChess Community Partner Program Announced". Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "CircleChess onboards Gukesh to transform the chess learning ecosystem". Retrieved 2025-04-16.