Hobby turned career, software engineer turned influencer.
I was in Hyderabad, with my brother when he was preparing for a tournament, and he wanted to practice with me! He beat me in just 15 moves, but something told me from within that I could take my revenge if I really tried. I dedicated my time and energy for a week, and won against him 4 times! I continued to practice for months out of sheer interest. I was addicted to the game and would play every day, until one day, when I was told off by my brother. He gave me an ultimatum and told me that I wouldn't get anywhere if I just played chess as a hobby. I needed to choose between pursuing the game professionally or getting a job. I was very tempted, but I feared for my future, and eventually left the game. I became a software engineer, but also maintained a YouTube Channel as a fun pastime. I began uploading videos about things I liked and found interesting.
As it grew, I started thinking about chess once more, and discovered that the online chess community was booming! I made a page on Instagram where I'd post memes and cartoons as a unique take on chess, and uploaded videos about chess on my channel too! I like to think that I am also a part of this wonderful chess community and that I can take my love for this game much further. I've already begun streaming chess with a lot of excitement, and if all goes well, I'd happily pursue it full time, doing what I love every day.
About the Author:
Avathanshu Bhat is a 16-year-old from Mumbai. He is the Editor-in-Chief for ChessBase India Juniors and Manager for ChessBase India's Elite Pass. He recently began a new series called 'Off the Board Tales' on ChessBase India's social media pages. He is a voracious reader, a Nolan film enthusiast, and is passionate about everything tech and games.
