IM Milos Stankovic

I started playing chess at the age of six, and it was my grandfather who introduced me to the game. Thanks to his patience and encouragement, my love for chess began to grow. The next step was enrolling in a chess school in my hometown of Belgrade.

I played my first tournament when I was seven. Although there were periods of pause and interruption, my playing career has lasted for 25 years. My childhood was shaped by school, play, and a natural inclination toward sports. I was passionate about basketball and also enjoyed other team sports involving a ball, such as volleyball, handball, and football. In my family, academic responsibility and strong performance were considered standard. After completing primary school and gymnasium, I went on to graduate from university.

Of all the interests I have pursued, the first one remains the strongest: my love for chess!

In 2010, I played in the Serbian First League for the first time and won first place with Chess Club "Smederevo." It was my debut in Serbia’s top-tier competition, and I found myself on a team with seasoned professionals. Despite the strong field, our team, considered a quiet contender, won the title. I played all 11 games and earned my first norm toward the International Master title.

In 2017, I represented Serbia at the European University Games in Zagreb, where we won a bronze medal. My teammate was IM Vladimir Luković, a close friend, and together we secured the first men's medal for our country in student chess championships.

In 2018, I won the Christmas Tournament in Augsburg. This event has a long-standing tradition and is organized by the president of the club I have represented for over 11 years.

Students I have worked with over longer periods have gone on to win international tournaments and earn titles such as International Master and FIDE Master. Every student has talent, and with the right guidance, dedication, and motivation, results follow!

I have collaborated with the renowned publishing house Chess Informant, contributing game analyses for their books. I authored a course on the Four Knights variation of the Sicilian Defense for Chess Fortress. I have also served as a second for close friends who hold IM and GM titles.

In terms of openings, I have played 1.e4 as White for most of my life and built a complete repertoire around it. With the Black pieces, I favor the French Defense and Queen’s Gambit for positional play. For players who prefer sharp lines, I recommend the Sicilian Defense and the Grünfeld.

I believe intuitive decision-making is extremely important and I enjoy designing exercises that help students improve in this area.

Regarding endgames, I focus on essential theoretical positions and place emphasis on strategic and complex practical endings. Calculation is trained through carefully selected exercises organized by theme.

Each lesson is divided into three segments. The first 20 minutes are dedicated to tactical warm-up. The next 20 minutes focus on openings or decision-making, depending on the lesson plan. The final 20 minutes are devoted to endgame study.

After each session, the student receives a PGN file containing homework exercises and a summary of the material covered during the lesson.