Testimonials – Puddletown Chess

Inspiring support for young players

"I really appreciate the dedication and the inspiring vision of Puddletown chess as non-profit organization to help young chess players in Oregon. The three founders of Puddletown chess are great role models for the kids - they are kind, knowledgeable, willing to share, and made tremendous contributions to local and OR state chess community. They have done fantastic job to make chess play fun and rewarding. Puddletown's tournaments are hosted at convenient NW Portland locations and always come with free game analysis as well as kid's favorite - free pizza! My son especially loves the bughouse game afterward, fun way to make friends! Their monthly free webinar is also great for kids to learn certain focus topics."

- Hong Li (parent) & Bohan Li (scholastic player)

Lessons in leadership from young role models

"Audacity to Start is an inspiring book for young leaders, written by two amazing teenagers who are also my child’s chess coaches and role models. The book follows their journey - from weekend chess games to founding national nonprofits, robotics and cybersecurity clubs, and TED-Ed initiatives - showing that age is no obstacle when you want to make a difference. As a parent, I’ve seen how much my child has benefited from their guidance. It’s not just about chess skills—my child has learned resilience, teamwork, and how to take initiative. Ishaan and Neev show that challenges can be opportunities to think creatively and act boldly. What makes this book stand out is how honest and relatable it is. The authors share both successes and failures, and that honesty makes the lessons stick. The stories are engaging, and the structure makes it easy to follow, providing practical examples of how young people can lead and make a real impact. Audacity to Start is more than a story—it’s an invitation for kids, parents, and educators to see what’s possible when young people are trusted and supported. For families like ours, it’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about age—it’s about courage, curiosity, and taking that first step. ."

- WM Yeh

A Book That Proves Teens Can Lead Big

Reading Audacity to Start gave us even more appreciation for what Ishaan and Neev have built. We’ve watched our child advance rapidly through their training system, supported by homework and feedback that truly make a difference. The book tells the story behind that structure and reminds readers that innovation and leadership don’t have to wait for adulthood. And just like the tournaments we attend every month (with free pizza, game reviews, and a warm community feel), the book is proof that they intentionally design everything to be both professional and joyful. Truly inspiring! -"Ankit"

Great community + fun tournaments

"The first time I went to a tournament, I was a little nervous because I didn't know anyone. But once I started playing, I realized I did know a few kids, and I quickly started to make more friends. It was super fun. The idea of game review is great, and helps me a lot. Also the community is super welcoming and nice."

- Ben (scholastic player)
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"Puddletown chess club is amazing and well run. The chess masters Zoey, Austin and Ishaan, are incredibly kind and thoughtful mentors. They and their team volunteers are well organized and very helpful. The online and in-person events are also well organized, instructive and a lot of fun."

- Mike (parent)

Exceptional training by caring teachers

"Puddletown chess club has been doing amazing work to teach, and motivate kids to play chess in northwest Portland. The founders of the club are very good scholastic players themselves, they are also good teachers. They have been patient, accommodating, and caring to my kid who started taking classes, attending webinars, and tournaments with Puddletown since second grade. Their classes have home work which challenges my kid to think. The events and tournaments are affordable, fun, and engaging. My kid is always looking forward to meet his young teachers in person for game analysis during these events and especially to the free pizza or snacks provided at the events. We are thankful to the Puddletown chess club for introducing us to the world of chess and we wish them all the best."

- Fahmida (parent) & Matisse (scholastic player)

Amazing Book !

Reading this book gave us a deeper appreciation for Ishaan and Neev, whose tournaments our child eagerly attends. The writing is vibrant, personal, and shows how much effort they’ve invested to make chess a community, not just a competition. What impressed us most is how they live what they write: at a school team tournament, Neev stepped up and played many lower rated players on board #1 to help his team, even though it could have cost him his rating. That choice reflected a rare kind of leadership—one rooted in teamwork, not ego. This book shines with those same values, making it inspiring not just for young players but for parents who want to see what true youth leadership looks like.

- " Abesolom A Fidel"

Written by teens, relevant to everyone

What impressed me most about Audacity to Start is how deeply relatable the lessons are, no matter your age or stage in life. The Kodarapu brothers don’t just tell the story of starting a chess non-profit—they walk you through the realities of building something from nothing: planning, recruiting, leading, and keeping people engaged week after week. Reading this reminded me that having a good idea is never enough; real progress comes from consistent effort and leadership. I was struck by their honesty around difficult moments—like moving on from one coach to another. It’s a reminder that growth often requires making uncomfortable choices, even when your heart wants to avoid conflict. Their openness evokes that leadership isn’t about avoiding tough decisions, but about moving forward with courage and integrity. Most powerful for me was the insight that leadership is not about carrying everything on your own. Whether in business, school projects, or mentoring, the moment you share responsibility and lean on others, you actually step into real leadership. This book is inspiring, energizing, and practical. Written with humility and authenticity, it proves that big impact doesn’t require waiting for the “right time” or “enough experience.” I recommend it to anyone—teen or adult—who wants to be reminded of the audacity it takes to start and the joy of building something that matters.

- "Dustin"

Remarkable progress via supportive community

I highly recommend Puddletown Chess Club to any aspiring chess player, particularly based on the remarkable progress my son Alex has achieved since joining in the spring term of 2023. Through the club's engaging tournaments, he has consistently faced diverse opponents, fostering a competitive atmosphere that has driven his growth and improvement. The club's commitment to providing free webinars and chess nights has expanded Alex's knowledge and strategic thinking, while the dedicated training sessions have honed his techniques to a new level. Puddletown Chess Club develops players and offers a supportive community that has greatly enriched Alex's chess journey.

- Fangsi (parent) & Alex (scholastic player)

Empowering young minds

""Puddletown Chess tournament is very beneficial to all kids & students so they can become more intelligent and make more smarter decisions in the future. Another thing is that they give girls and low-income kids deeply discounted fees, or they are free. Puddletown Chess tournaments help kids become more smarter in chess so they can learn new things from other players, and it encourages girls and low-income kids to play chess with others. Best regards to Puddletown Chess!.

- SB (parent) & SB (scholastic player)

Amazing Book!

The book was about overcoming challenges and how to solve them. It taught me that sometimes you have to really think about a problem to find the solution, and other times it’s okay to ask for help. It’s not always about solving things by yourself- your whole team has to work together to succeed. One important lesson was about persevering when things go wrong. Things don’t always go as planned, but you have to keep on trying. Neev & Ishaan was my past chess instructors and I’m really happy for them. This book had a lot of helpful information, and I learned so much from it. It showed me how to overcome barriers, and I believe the lessons will help me a lot in the future. - "Clares Molina"

Must read for young aspiring leaders!!

I know Ishaan and Neev since they were young and its been inspiring to see their passion for Chess grow over the years. I’ve seen a ton of people play chess at various competitions to improve their ratings and win tournaments. However Ishaan and Neev are very different. They want to play tournaments too, but more importantly, they want to spread their passion for game to many others.. A few years back, when I spoke to them, they told me their mission was to help 1,000 students achieve a 1,000+ chess rating—and given their age at the time, I was genuinely surprised. Both my boys play chess and I know how difficult it is to achieve 1000+ rating and establishing a chess academy tutoring 1000 students is no small feat. The book "Audacity to Start" talks about their love for chess and how they executed their mission with utmost dedication and focus. True leadership is not just leading a group - its about being right there with them. This book teaches young aspiring leaders that any dream can be fulfilled if you stay focused and are willing to face every challenges along the way.

-"Kiran"

Fun, friendly, well-managed tournaments