careers

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Shifting gears from passion to profession to franchising brands.

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While some brands tend to take it slow, post climbing up to catch their initial goal, it is not always true for others. Some names emerge out of passion and it is the passion that drives them to traverse through crossroads and decisions that are dense. Mind Mentorz is one such name which never stopped, or even paused upon meeting their immediate goals. The now-well -known chess coaching institute in Bangalore believes in the proliferation of cognitive skills in kids through consistent stimulation, has come a long way. 

“It took three years to reach where we are, but the journey started when I was just seven” Praveen Sagar, Co-founder of Mind Mentorz,  remembers being introduced to chess. He is an AGM (Arena Grandmaster) and shares the love for chess that drove him to be an integral part of the institution. He also believes in the relentless effort that Mind Mentorz puts to guide each child to find her/his passion. “We need to strengthen the cognitive abilities in children, so they receive every opportunity and mould them to help themselves. This is crucial in the developing stages.” 

You can never have enough knowledge, there is always something that you do not know. Mind Mentorz enriches kids with ‘Edutainment’ - spreading knowledge through the medium of entertainment - a simple idea that has accelerated with time and picked up the pace. And now, after three years of focused efforts, the seed has sprouted and grown and is swaying to a different wind of change. Mind Mentorz is all set to franchise and explore further frontiers. 

Setting Out for Franchising   

According to the founders and brothers, Praveen and Pradeep, Mind Mentorz has come a long way. The idea of franchising came much later, once the academy succeeded in establishing its name in and around Bangalore. And the idea of spreading out and reaching a wider segment did not happen in a day but took sheer dedication and a bunch of like-minded people who share the same passion and purpose. 

Not only chess, but the academy also stresses on other cognitive development programs like Robotics, Rubik’s Cube, Scratch Coding etc, that train the mind to deal with and respond to situations and circumstances in a balanced manner.

Kids absorb such complex recreational activities much more actively than the youth or the adults, making it easier to train them. The new-gen parents are also as much aware of the health benefits of mind gym as the founder brothers who believe that learning surpasses age limit. They are also very particular about both the physical and the mental health of developing kids. Mind Mentorz serves a medium that provides activities to engage children through recreational schemes and simultaneously develops their mental, emotional and behavioural patterns.

Mind Mentorz is the true definition of passion turning to profession. The trust, conviction and support of the parents and the kids, have always been the strengthening pillars of the academy and still serves as the wind beneath the wings that are aiming to spread out and soar high.

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The advantages of Edutainment in benefiting the growth of kids?

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The advantages of Edutainment in benefiting the growth of kids?

When we mention the growth of a child, we mean a comprehensive growth and not just academic. Science is constantly trying to help humans live a better life, and our kids are the projection of the future. Only education is a channel that could liberate one’s thoughts and forge one’s action to achieve greater goods. With much research and analysis, scientists have found, as much complex a brain maybe, a child’s brain is like a sponge and it has a tendency to grab things easily, especially those that are served through entertainment. Edutainment is a method of learning, combining both education and entertainment.

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The Evolution of Learning since the Last Decade

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The Evolution of Learning since the Last Decade

Don’t fade in nostalgia already. Yes we do agree those times were great but a lot has changed since then. Look around along with your age, there are a thousand other things that have transformed, for better or for worse, that’s a never ending debate. What’s particularly applauding is the course of learning. It has changed and only for good. No more log books to fill and spend 9 hours inside concrete walls. Knowledge and education have broken those cages and now are free of to be explored even outside school.

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How to be a better chess player?

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How to be a better chess player?

What is the fuss about being a better player? What makes you think you are not that great? If the ranking makes you think so, it is not a good idea to comprehend if you are a good player or not based on just ranking. It is said that if you have a rating of 1200 and above you are better than 75% of the average players. So, it is better to improve your present game than to be disheartened about your ranking. However, do you know what ELO stands for?

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You need to analyse your own game. But how?

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You need to analyse your own game. But how?

Chess is like knowledge. You can’t grasp it all. You don’t find any grandmaster declaring that they know all about chess. Your opponent might surprise you with a new opening or a strategic move that you didn’t know about. So, you need to be open to learning whenever there is an opportunity. What makes you a better player is your ability to comprehend your own game. Scrutinize, analyse and then practise. Everyone does that after a tournament or even a game. If you don’t start doing it to get better results. But how do you analyse your game? This blog will walk you through the complete process of Analysing your game. Let’s get started. 

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How to improve your game in chess

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How to improve your game in chess

Whether it’s chess or any other game/sports, you need to improve your game with time. Though we are not saying it is easy, however, if you don’t try to rank up your game you will be left behind. You are responsible for your performance, good or bad. If you lose a match, there is no need to be heartbroken, just that you need to have the spirit to find out where you missed the chance to win the game. So, without further ado, let’s find out how can you improve your present game and take it to the next level?

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Three ways to learn various openings in chess

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Three ways to learn various openings in chess

Openings play a decisive part in the game of chess. You know how to play a great game but your initiation can change the path of the game. A strong opening is a sign of a smart player moving strategically. Though you need to plan your game and then decide for an appropriate opening, it is practical to learn as many openings as possible. These fancy opening names like The Italian, French Defense etc are some of the best openings that would add significant value to the entire game. 

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How to defend and win in chess?

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How to defend and win in chess?

Attack or defense? What does it take to win a game in chess? Most of the people will offer you a tiny piece of advice, the first to attack wins the game. Though there are literally no evidence that proves the fact, people believe its true and the real reason beneath it must be the thrill, the risk. So, is defending a poor man’s trick to escape? Let’s find out. 

With respect to the game, defending is as important as attacking and you just could not neglect its role in careful strategization. To understand and develop your strategy you need to know the golden principles of defending. 

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The Art of Castling in Chess

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Chess can be a complex game if you don’t get the strategies right. It takes absolute commitment and interest to learn the tiny tricks that could place you in the list of finest players. Also, you can’t learn everything on your own. You borrow or even steal your opponent’s or mentor’s tactics to put up a strong competition. Even though you got everything right, there are certain moves that would keep your opponent pondering early in the game. Castling is one special move that could change the course of the game. However, you could only do it once in the game. 

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Eight ways in which any chess game can end

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Eight ways in which any chess game can end

Do you think only a checkmate can conclude the game? Well, there are many beginners who think so. However, there are eight possible ways that can end a game of chess. It may seem odd at first, but is quite common in elite games where the players choose an alternative to end a game. Technically, there are two broader terms that are generally used to decide a game’s fate. They are Win/Lose or Draw. But you need to know that there are certain exceptions that follow even in these cases. Let’s find out the eight ways that can end a game of chess.

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Best Chess Opening Principles for Beginners

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Best Chess Opening Principles for Beginners

Once you have learned the basics of chess, how to move your pieces and engage your opponent to move theirs, it is time to learn those  rules that could set your opening game straight. A good opening ensures better protection of the King, control over an area of the board, like the center, greater mobility for pieces, and better opportunities to capture opposing pawns and pieces. To be adept at this there are a few principles that one must follow as beginners. Let’s take a look at the following:

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How to avoid missing the most obvious chess moves?

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How to avoid missing the most obvious chess moves?

Our mental constraints block the perception of absorbing every movement and stimulus that present themselves in front of us. So it is not a shocker to believe that in a game like chess, the most unsubtle and quickly identifiable moves can be overlooked and regretted as the game proceeds in the opponent’s favour.

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Tips and Tricks to improve your middle-game in chess

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When it comes to chess, learning the game may seem easy, but mastering it could definitely take a while. Being a two-player strategic board game, chess has been prevalent amongst us since a long time now. Moreover, it helps build cognitive skills, especially amongst children. So, enrolling them in for chess coaching in cities like Bangalore is a good option, wherein children will be able to develop themselves better. 

In chess, most players do know how to serve the opening but lack the skill of finishing it wisely. Such scenarios usually occur when one isn’t too confident about the middle-game strategies that you could use, which in turn could make the game seem more complicated than it can actually get. 

So, how do you tackle such a scenario? Here are a few tips and tricks to improve your middle-game in chess – 

  1. Bring your pieces to the centre

 Centrepieces control the majority number of squares on a chessboard. When you collectively bring your pieces to the centre, you will be at a greater advantage of dealing with the knights, as you play. Although the knights usually control as many as 8 squares when they are centralized, they end up controlling 2 squares when cornered. Moreover, bishop and queen pieces can be very effective form the margin. However, when centralized, they can move flexibly and also control either sides of the board game.


  1. Pairing your Bishops

 As we all know, two definitely is better than one, and in such a scenario, pairing your bishops can be a wise and powerful move that could impact the game in your favour. Avoid losing out on your bishops at the beginning or during the middle of the game. In multiple cases, the bishop pairs’ attacking potential overweighs the pawn structure defects.


  1. Rooks work best on open files

In case there is an open file available, your first instinct should be to ensure that your rook occupies the file. You can also double your winning chances by doubling your rooks in the open file. In case that isn’t available, you can reach out to a semi-open file that  you can force open, later in the game.


  1. Weak squares should be avoided

In chess, weak squares cannot be protected by pawns, although such squares are perfect to represent strong outposts for the pieces on the other side. With this being said, trouble usually spurs when a weak square is formed on the center or near the king’s position, especially because pawns cannot move backwards.


  1. Avoid Allowing Weak Pawns 

Isolated, backward or doubled pawns should be avoided, majorly. A weak pawn gives your opponent the upper hand to turn the game in his/her favour. It is essential that you use your pawns during the game wisely as they can only move forward in the game. 

In conclusion, you can increase your chances of winning the game by improving the position of your pieces through identification, finding the right squares for those pieces and carefully manoeuvring a plan of action in the game. 

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Do knowledge and education create the power of unanimity

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Do knowledge and education create the power of unanimity

You may think the answer is either a yes, or a no. Although the answer could not be, or rather is not that simple. The country’s relation to education started quite early. History suggests ancient India had traces of education being widely spread across various sections of the society. Scholarly scriptures and manuscripts that are translated from oral recitation by saints and sages had been found in different parts of the country, known as the remains of the cultural impression. 

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What are the five common mistakes every chess beginner makes?

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What are the five common mistakes every chess beginner makes?

Consider playing chess an art. Have you ever come across anyone saying, they have learnt everything in the process of studying art or literature? It is impossible. The same is with chess. You can master its skills, but you can’t get over learning chess. You learn something new everyday. Beginners have a tendency to constantly learn new things and we agree, any new activity that you pursue can make you curious at the beginning. Which is absolutely fine but you need a mentor to guide you through. You just need to understand how it's all happening. 

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Why do just have a little to choose from? Why just black and white?

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Why do just have a little to choose from? Why just black and white?

Dorris Lessing, the British-Zimbabwean novelist and the Nobel Prize Awardee of 2007 said: ”Things are not quite so simple as black and white.” If that is so why do we just ponder upon the substance of just two colours, Black and White? These weigh too heavy if classified differently, yet the fundamentals of all from a silent comedy movie of the 1900’s to a poetic representation of the darkness that prevails on a full moon night.  One such expression has also been associated with the black and white of a chessboard. Well, we found out the representation of the chessboard painted or referred to as black and white has nothing to do with its primitive discovery. 

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Why it is advisable to memorize your first chess openings?

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Why it is advisable to memorize your first chess openings?

They agree to it or not, initially, every grandmaster started with learning and memorizing opening moves. Once you get acquainted with the opening moves, get to the next exercise. Learning these moves doesn’t mean you do not have the potential to learn this game. Learning these moves gives a better chance to proceed and eventually win a game. It also helps you understand the structure of the game and understand your position. Your idols, the grand masters have now been practising these opening moves since years so they don’t need to visually see to move ahead. They just virtually picture it in their brain and focus on ideas of the opening move. If you wish to trick your opponent just like your grandmasters do, try and learn all the basic and important opening moves. 

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The chessboard reveals: The King and the queen are equally responsible for the chessboard.

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The chessboard reveals: The King and the queen are equally responsible for the chessboard.

A very common question that might have come across the mind of every rookie is why is the ‘queen’ most powerful piece on the chessboard? To answer this question, we have to go back in time. Historians believe the queen rose to power in the 15th century. Before that, the queen, who was previously known as the ‘fers’ or the ‘advisor’ was the weakest piece on the board. The advisor could only move one square diagonally. Why it became powerful, is because the game of chess that was once limited to a part of the world spread across the European continent during the 15th century. Due to the presence of many influential female monarchs in the continent, the game went through some crucial changes. These changes made the Queen, all-powerful and important. 

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In the time of video games, which junction does chess stand at?

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In the time of video games, which junction does chess stand at?

Not just kids, firstly, we all are culprits here. We all are addicted to the screen as much as any kid. Kids generally mimic the behaviour of their parents or whomever they spend their time with. They are quick learners and according to Dr Howard Klein, the director of behavioural pediatrics at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore "A 1-year-old understands that the actions he's copying have a significance,"

So, if at the age of 6-7 he/she is inclined to play video games more than usual, it is a behavioural tendency he/she picked up while growing up. How can you stop them from engaging into video games? The answer is you can’t. You can limit their access but can’t stop them from playing video games completely.

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Know the Top 5 Youngest Grandmasters in the World?

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Know the Top 5 Youngest Grandmasters in the World?

These kids are young and they are the best at what they do. Being a chess master is a dream for every kid who adores chess. But these kids have made a place in the world named as the Youngest Grandmasters. You know your game well, but do you know them? Let us take some inspiration from these little geniuses. 

Gift your child a new skill.