Two Beaverton kids have the audacity to write a book and win games

I’m often asked by parents what good is it to learn chess and spend time trying to improve? Two Jesuit High students, Ishaan and Neev Kodarapu, answered that question better than I can.

In their recently published book, Audacity to Start, A Teen’s Journey to Launch, Lead and Build What Matters Most, they documented their journey from being just chess players to being chess entrepreneurs. They helped create the non-profit chess organization, Puddletown Chess.

In chess, there are three stages: Opening, Middlegame and Endgame.

The opening is where you develop a plan and that is what Ishaan and Neev did. They decided they wanted to add 1,000 players, with ratings of 1,000 to the Oregon chess community. Initially they held tournaments starting with 20-40 showing up to play, and three years later, over 140 players are competing in their popular tournaments.

The Middlegame is where you decide on long range plans.

Ishaan and Neev did this by bringing in more chess players to help outline their goals and expand Puddletown Chess. They built blogs to put the word out about tournaments and chess lessons. They talked with parents, businesspeople, writers, mentors. They listened to anyone who they thought could give them ideas and help. And as Puddletown grew, they hired chess coaches to work with students and help with in-person and online lessons and classes.

The Endgame is how you win the game.

Ishaan and Neev Kosaraju did this by putting the tournament profits back into the organization: buying chess equipment, and funding lesson scholarships and free entries to tournaments for underrepresented players, including low-income students and girls. They did not want to rely on donations to keep Puddletown going, but rather to make it completely self-supporting.

Ishaan and Neev and their partners have built a remarkable organization in Puddletown and its success will last long after they have gone to college. Not only have they built their business like any smart chess players would — with an opening, a middlegame and a triumphant endgame — but they also learned from their mistakes along the way. And the lessons they learned make fascinating reading for kids, businesspeople and those in non-profits — anyone who wants to win the game.

Their book, Audacity to Start, A Teen’s Journey to Launch, Lead and Build What Matters Most can be purchased on Amazon (Kindle $2.99, paperback $13.99).

Larry Ball (Coach Larry) teaches students of all ages at the Steinitz Chess Academy in Beaverton. Questions? Email Larry at larryball48@yahoo.com.