A two-sport director whose love of chess strategy and cricket competition brings focus, discipline, and competitive spirit to every student he works with.
Background & Training
Senthil Velan Yuvaraj has been playing chess since age seven, building his game to a rating of approximately 1500 on Chess.com. He has been playing cricket since age ten and competes actively in Woodlands-area leagues, where he has earned multiple Man of the Match awards as an all-rounder capable with both bat and ball.
His dual background in chess and cricket is not a coincidence - he sees the same core skills running through both: pattern recognition, reading your opponent, staying calm under pressure, and making good decisions with incomplete information. As Director of Chess and Cricket at Spotlight Academy, he brings that cross-disciplinary mindset to students in both programs.
Teaching Philosophy
Senthil teaches his students to think strategically - whether they're calculating variations on a chessboard or planning their next shot at the crease. He believes the analytical habits developed in chess make better cricketers, and the composure developed in cricket makes better chess players.
His sessions are practical and game-focused. He teaches through positions, scenarios, and real competitive situations rather than abstract theory - because that's how he learned, and that's what sticks.
Credentials
- Chess player since age seven - ~1500 Elo (Chess.com)
- Cricket all-rounder since age ten
- Active competitor in Woodlands-area cricket leagues
- Multiple Man of the Match awards in cricket
- Director of both Chess and Cricket programs at Spotlight Academy
Learn with Senthil Velan Yuvaraj
Enroll in Chess and we will confirm placement, campus, and the schedule that fits.
