Hi! My name is Nandini, and I’m a rising junior from Frisco, Texas, and the Co-President/ Founder of Project Magnus. I’ve been playing chess since I was 5 years old, and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. I created Project Magnus so everyone has access to quality math and chess education throughout the world for a very low cost.

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In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, reading, learning new languages (So far I know Malayalam, Tamil, Spanish, and am currently working on Romanian this summer), and annoying my little brother from time to time.

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If you have any questions or need support, feel free to reach out anytime. I’m always happy to help, whether it’s related to chess, math, or anything else :)

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My Math & Chess Credibility​​

• Over nine years of experience, and with numerous national/ international accolades

  • 8x qualifier for the World Cadet and World Youth Chess Championships

  • 2024 KCF All-Girls Nationals Champion (Only perfect score out of  6 sections/513 players)

  • Midwest Women’s Championship Winner

  • Southwest Championship Winner

  • ​Illinois State Championship Winner

• Teaching experience of over 4 years:

  • Co-instructor at international organization based in Eastern Africa where I teach children in Southwestern Uganda how to play chess; currently them prepping for nationals ​

  • Co-Director of External Programs at a local 501(c)(3) which aims to bridge the gender divide in chess and empowering female high school chess leaders. 

    • Won Presidential Volunteer Service Award through Queens United, where I spent over 100 hours doing acts of community service like teaching, creating lesson plans, etc

• Math Creds

  • Began taking high school-level math courses at 13 years old, and college level math coursework at 15

  • Will be taking AP Calculus AB in the school year 2026-27

  • Active member in Mu Alpha Theta (United States Mathematics Honor Society)

Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.

My name is Chika Pride, and I am a 9th-grade student at Ignite Christian Academy. I am from Nassau, The Bahamas, and I have been involved in competitive chess since 2022. Through chess, I have developed discipline, critical thinking, perseverance, and leadership skills while representing The Bahamas in regional and international competitions. I joined Project Magnus because I want to help others learn and enjoy chess while developing their cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and confidence. I believe chess is a powerful educational tool, and I am passionate about sharing it with younger students. Through Project Magnus, I hope to inspire others to think strategically, challenge themselves, and reach their full potential. Outside of chess, I enjoy cooking, baking, gaming, drawing, making music, and participating in sports, and I have experience teaching chess to children in schools, at home, and in community settings.

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Chess Creds

• Current FIDE Standard Rating: 1789

• Woman Candidate Master (WCM) and currently the youngest titled chess player in The Bahamas.

• Three-time Bahamas National Junior Female Chess Champion (2023, 2024, 2025).

• 2026 Bahamas Scholastic Individual Chess Champion (7/7 pts).

• Youngest Bahamian ever to qualify for and participate in a Chess Olympiad; represented The Bahamas at the 2022 and 2024 Olympiads and selected for 2026.

• Tied for first place in the 2026 Bahamas National Chess Championship with 6.5/9, finishing 3rd on tiebreaks.

• Represented The Bahamas at CAC Youth and Pan-American Youth Chess Festivals.

• Placed 4th in the Under-16 Girls category at the 2025 CAC Youth Chess Festival (6/9 pts).

• National Under-14 and Under-16 Female Chess Champion.

• Co-founder of Pink Pawns, promoting and supporting girls in chess.

• Extensive experience teaching and mentoring chess students in schools, private lessons, and community programs.

Hello, everyone! My name is Khanim Ismayilova, and I’m a sophomore at West Springfield High School in Virginia. I started learning chess when I was 5 years old and continue to play competitively today while holding the title of Woman Candidate Master (WCM). Alongside chess, I enjoy solving math problems, and I’m currently enrolled in Algebra 2. I joined Project Magnus because I wanted to be part of a community that encourages academic growth and provides opportunities for people who are interested in chess. In the meantime, I enjoy volunteering, playing volleyball, tennis, listening to all types of music like pop, drawing when I have time, and learning new languages (I know 4 so far)!

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As for some of my accomplishments:

• National U16 Girls Champion (2026)

• Selected twice as the top female chess player in Virginia (K–12) and nominated for the Annual Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions

• 6x Azerbaijan champion under age category, representing Azerbaijan in World Cadets cup

• Won 4th place with high school team at the Virginia State Championship

• USCF peak rating: 2175 (current rating is 2164)

• FIDE peak rating: 2049

• Winner of multiple chess tournaments

• Faced GM Hikaru Nakamura over the board in a classical game

• Defeated a Grandmaster in a classical tournament

• One year of coaching experience, working with beginners to intermediate players

• Current high school chess club leader

My name is Samantha Dolly. I am currently a student at St. Augustine Girls' High School in Trinidad and Tobago. Chess has been a big part of my life for years. I have won both the National Under-16 and National Junior Under-20 Girls' Championship titles. I joined Project Magnus because I want to share the many strategic, mental, and personal benefits of chess with the next generation of players. To me, this organization focuses on breaking down barriers and showing young students how rewarding and exciting these intellectual activities can be. Outside of competitive chess, I balance my schoolwork with various extracurricular activities. I love staying active and enjoy volunteering to give back to my local community. -

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My Creds

• Trinidad and Tobago Senior National Team Representative

• Trinidad and Tobago National Junior Under-20 Girls' Champion

• National Under-16 Girls' Champion

• FIDE World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad Representative

• Ranked among the top 5 active female chess players representing Trinidad and Tobago.

• Tied for 4th in Subzonal 2.3.3 Women Chess Championships 2025

Hi! My name is Kavya Setty, and I am a high school student at Frisco High School in Frisco, Texas. I joined Project Magnus because I am passionate about helping younger students build confidence in math and develop problem-solving skills that will benefit them both inside and outside the classroom. Being part of Project Magnus allows me to combine my love for learning, leadership, and community service while making a positive impact on students. Outside of Project Magnus, I serve as President of SDG Champions and Secretary of Student Council, and I actively participate in Business Professionals of America (BPA). I am also a certified DECA Store Manager, a certified yoga instructor who teaches classes in my community, and a volunteer ESL tutor. In my free time, I enjoy entrepreneurship, leadership activities, volunteering, and exploring business and data analytics through internships and research opportunities.

Math Credentials -

• Completed AP Pre-Calculus and AP Statistics

• Strong foundation in algebra, functions, probability, statistics, and data analysis

• Experienced in tutoring and mentoring students in academic subjects, including mathematics

• Volunteer ESL tutor, helping students strengthen academic and problem-solving skills

• Developed analytical and quantitative reasoning skills through data analytics and consulting internships

• Certified DECA Store Manager, demonstrating proficiency in business operations, financial literacy, and problem-solving

• Certified Yoga Instructor, developing communication, leadership, and teaching skills through leading classes

• President of SDG Champions and Secretary of Student Council, with experience leading educational workshops and mentoring peers Passionate about helping students build confidence, critical-thinking skills, and a positive attitude toward math

Hello! I'm Mithun and I go to Independence High school in Frisco, Texas. I have been Involved with Project Magnus before the club officially launched as the Programs Director. Project Magnus serves as a social and intellectual hub for me, where I can share and receive knowledge relating to math and chess from various parts of the world. Outside of my time in Magnus, I enjoy gaming, volunteering at KSHT, and trading stocks.

Math & Chess Credentials:

• 7 years of Chess experience, started out playing with family and am now climbing the ranks in online tournaments

• Currently taking AP Precalculus

• Mu Alpha Theta member

• AMC 8 competitor

• 700+ SAT math score

Hello! My name is Amyra Jain and I am in grade 9. I live in Harare, Zimbabwe and go to Hellenic Academy. I have been playing chess for about 5 years now and have been playing international since 2023. I am also a strong mathematician and whilst I haven't actively participated in any math competitions I often score well in exams and tests. I joined Project Magnus because it gives me the platform to be able to share my talents with like minded people around the world and help those who aspire to grow, excel and be extraordinary. Other than chess and maths I am also a musician and play the clarinet and piano as well as doing vocals. Moreover I am an avid debater and public speaker. Generally I would say I am a strong academic student and I hope to help others reach their goals in the same way that I have.

Credentials

• 2x national chess champion

• 6th in all of Africa 2024 for chess

• IGCSE maths syllabus + Singapore maths + Abacus Maths

Hello! My name is Aanya Gupta, and I am a rising senior at Independence High School. I serve as the Math Instruction Lead and Mentor Coordinator at Project Magnus. In school, I recently completed AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC. Outside of academics, I enjoy art, volunteering, reading, and mathematics. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and contributing to my community in a new way!

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Accomplishments/ Creds

• Math Tutor through UPchieve (1-to-1 online tutoring specifically for low-income middle and high school students in the U.S.) 

• Participant AMC 12 and UIL number sense in the past 

• Already passed AP Calculus BC & AP Statistics, & am aiming to continue with multivariable calculus next year (2026-27)

Hi! My name is Rima Singh, and I am a sophomore at Independence High School in Texas. Math has been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember. Throughout elementary and middle school, I participated in competitive math and took part in UIL Math and AMC competitions, which helped develop my problem-solving skills and appreciation for mathematics. I joined Project Magnus because it gives me the opportunity to share my passion for math with younger students and help them build confidence in their abilities. Beyond math, I enjoy playing tennis, painting, and spending time with friends. I am also involved in community service through the Red Cross and recently led a fundraising campaign for cancer research that raised over $540.

Math credentials:

• Volunteer tutor with Upchieve, providing academic support to students in various levels of mathematics

• Officer of Mu Alpha Theta, my school's mathematics honor society

• Currently enrolled in Pre-Calculus and advancing to AP Calculus BC in the 2026–2027 school year through an accelerated mathematics pathway

Hi I'm Dvisha Patel, a 11th grader from Independence High School located in Frisco, TX. I have participated in various math UIL competitions. I have previously tutored kids in math, mainly algebra. As my chosen career, Engineering, is math based, I strive to understand math concepts as best I can. I joined Project Magnus to provide quality education to other and assist those in need of extra help. I participate in a robotics team and enjoy working hands on. Additionally, I enjoy all sorts of crafts, drawing, and crocheting.

My name is Ishan Priya, I am a rising 10th grader, and I go to Independence High School. I started playing chess when I was 6, and started competing when I was 9. For math I have always been finance inclined and so I deal with math on a daily basis. I am the captain of my soccer team and I do competitive debate.

MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Southwest Classic Annual Nationals 1st place

• North Texas Annual Regionals back to back 1st place

• USCF Annual Nationals 15th place

• Multiple TCC and ACA tourneys won.

• Many more small tourneys won.

• Also privately tutoring people in chess, and going to start tutoring people at a local math place.

• Going into Algebra II and AP Physics 1 (2026-27 year)

Hey! My name is Gautham Thiyagarajan and I am a rising junior at Independence High School. I am currently enrolled in AP Calculus BC, and I started playing chess for fun when I became 11 and recently started regularly going to tournaments. I have won many tournaments and received many medals and trophies. I joined Project Magnus because I wanted to give back to the community with topics I enjoy, (Math and Chess). This program is my way of helping kids grow their knowledge and creating new interests. I am an admin at ACEing Autism, (an organization where we teach autistic kids how to play tennis), and I enjoy going the tennis and chess tournaments.

Credentials:

• Completed AP Precalculus and enrolled in AP Calculus BC for my 11th grade year.

• Competed in numerous chess tournaments around Texas

• Received many medals and trophies from my tournaments

• My most notable tournament is my first place win at the Texas Spring Championship in McKinney, Texas with a score of 3.5/4!