Cover Stories #51: FM Sandeep Sethuraman

FM Sandeep Sethuraman (David Llada)

Today’s guest on Cover Stories with Chess Life is someone you might not have heard of yet, but I’m guessing that you will, and soon.

FM Sandeep Sethuraman is the author of our March cover story on the K-12 Grade Championships, held last December in National Harbor, Maryland. Sandeep scored 6.5/7 to claim clear first in the 11th Grade Championship, and afterwards, he reached out to me to see if he might write something for Chess Life or Chess Life Kids. Perfect timing — I was looking for someone to write about the K-12, and here we are.

At age 15, Sethuraman is rated 2465 USCF, and the 24th rated player under the age of 21. He has earned three IM norms, meaning that once he pushes his FIDE rating over 2400 — he’s 19 points away — he will become an IM.

But Sandeep is more than ‘just’ a chess player. A junior at BASIS Chandler in Chandler, AZ, he is an excellent student, and his non-profit, The Chess Effect, has raised money for foster care children and works to teach children to underprivileged youth.

Fire up your favorite podcast service and add the entire family of US Chess podcasts to your playlist. Each week, US Chess brings you a new program with interesting guests discussing informative topics on all aspects of chess--from top players around the world to innovators of the game in your own backyard. Follow the links below to find and learn more about each podcast.

Cover Stories With Chess Life, Hosted By John Hartmann

This monthly podcast, hosted by Chess Life and Chess Life Online Editor John Hartmann, goes in depth and behind the scenes of each month’s Chess Life cover story.

Podcast website | iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcast

Ladies Knight, Hosted By WGM Jennifer Shahade

Ladies Knight is hosted by WGM Jennifer Shahade, two-time US Women’s Chess Champion, featuring female chess champions and leaders. Jennifer Shahade is the Women’s Program director at US Chess.

Podcast website | iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Chess Underground, Hosted By Pete Karagianis

Chess Underground is the show that explores eccentricities, peculiarities, and theoretical novelties. The Chess Underground is hosted by NM Pete Karagianis, the US Chess Assistant Director of Events

Podcast website | iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts