At the age of five, Rohan Krishna picked up his first chest piece, unaware of how big chess would become in his life. By the time he was eight, he was competing in tournaments, and before long, he became one of the top 20 chess players in the U.S. for his age group. 

For a while, he held the rank of third in New York. He trained rigorously, dedicating four to five hours a day studying the game, and over the years, reading hundreds of books to dig deeper into the intricacies of chess. These commitments have earned him over 60 trophies.

Despite Rohan’s success, he recently stepped away from tournaments to focus on school. However, his love for chess has not diminished. Instead of playing, he has been channeling his passion into writing a book, “Growth Over the Board: An Introspective Look Through Chess Puzzles,” which he completed before the start of the school year.

Rohan’s book, compared to other chess books, contains two perspectives: strategic and emotional. The strategic side focuses on solving puzzles and beating an opponent, while the emotional perspective focuses on overcoming obstacles and facing challenges. Rohan wanted to create a book that also focuses on the mental aspect of chess, as many books only focus on the tactical side. 

Rohan also wrote an article that was featured in Empire Chess Magazine and Colorado State Chess Magazine, and it was the top article in each publication. In it, he disproved a theory about a former world champion, growing his reputation in the chess world. 

Through his writing and contributions, he is shaping the way that players can approach both the strategic and mental aspects of the game. 

At Hackley, Rohan leads the Chess Club, mentoring younger students and showcasing his skills. In December, he competed against Ms. Richardson in a speed chess match, securing a win in under thirty seconds.

Once the year ends, Rohan plans to pick up chess again and play more frequently.