Overview
Atharva Sen Barai is a software engineer, independent researcher, and chess player from India. He is the Founder & Lead Developer of RookDuel, where he directs practical software development, cryptographic research, and strategic initiatives.
Recognized as an official Arena FIDE Master (AFM) by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), his work focuses on deterministic systems, information theory, and structured problem-solving.
Technical Focus & Work
- Systems & Archival Security: Engineering standalone desktop utilities and local-first software with deterministic reliability, authenticated encryption (AES-256-GCM, Argon2id), and long-term data durability, informing RookDuel Avikal.
- Cryptographic Steganography: Theoretical exploration and implementation of information embedding within rule-constrained symbolic carriers. Authored the research monograph High-Capacity Steganographic Encoding Using Legal Chess PGN (Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18138528), which provides the algorithmic foundation for RookDuel Encode.
- Developer Tools & Infrastructure: Designing open architecture for technical documentation, machine-readable interfaces, and modular component systems, informing RookDuel Setu.
- Competitive Chess Operations: Directing competitive team operations and analytical preparation across online platforms including WorldChess, Chess.com, and Lichess.
Verified Credentials & Academic Records
- Arena FIDE Master (AFM): Official FIDE title awarded by the International Chess Federation (ratings.fide.com/profile/33376670).
- ORCID Researcher Record: Persistent digital identifier 0009-0002-4485-7981.
- Research Publication: High-Capacity Steganographic Encoding Using Legal Chess PGN, published with permanent DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18138528 and indexed in the RookDuel Research Archive.
- Personal Portfolio: Web projects, writing, and initiatives at atharva.rookduel.tech.
Inquiries & Correspondence
For technical collaboration, research inquiries, or correspondence, reach out at contact@rookduel.tech or submit an inquiry through the Contact Page.