I am an IM from Vancouver Canada and a professional chess coach with over 7 years experience helping juniors and adult improvers rated from 1200 -2300 level-up their game, break through rating plateaus and achieve their chess goals.
My peak classical FIDE rating is 2436, and my peak Lichess Bullet rating is 2915.
Here is a short article about me published in the Globe and Mail that provides some additional background: www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-vancouver-chess-player-is-canadas-newest-international-master/
Here is my FIDE profile page: ratings.fide.com/profile/2616840
About me
Playing experience
I am very active online and over the board at tournaments around the world including Sitges, the London Classic, the US Masters as well as the FIDE Continental World Cup Qualifier and Youth Olympiad where I won a brilliancy prize awarded by GM Judit Polgar.
Some of my favourite games including exciting wins versus GMs and other strong titled players can be found in the following study.
lichess.org/study/wg9S7cRE
Some of my favourite games including exciting wins versus GMs and other strong titled players can be found in the following study.
lichess.org/study/wg9S7cRE
Teaching experience
I have been a working chess coach helping both juniors and adult improvers achieve their chess goals since 2015. Committed students I have worked with have tended to see their ratings improve significantly in 6-12 months, often by several hundred points. I've coached top finishers at National scholastic events and national representatives at FIDE events such as the WYCC.
Other experiences
Competitive chess has changed a great deal in recent years and as an active tournament player, I am well versed in modern opening theory, and am experienced in both general and targeted opening preparation. I can help you develop a complete and cohesive opening repetoire along with middle game plans, as well as providing specific guidance for how to gain the upper hand on your upcoming tournament opponents.
Best skills
Aside from my ability to leverage modern training tools, techniques and opening theory, I am student-focused, possess strong English language communicaton skills and support my students with psychological aspects on the game in order to help them achieve their full potential at the board.
As an individual sport, it is common for players to feel stressed, alone and unsupported - especially before and during important events and competitions. My students feel that someone is there to support them through the highs and lows of their chess experiences and to help them learn and improve from them.
As an individual sport, it is common for players to feel stressed, alone and unsupported - especially before and during important events and competitions. My students feel that someone is there to support them through the highs and lows of their chess experiences and to help them learn and improve from them.
Teaching methodology
Training programs for my students are all custom designed and focussed on their unique goals and needs. Every chess player has their own unique goals, strengths and challenges. Therefore, training programs for my students are all custom designed and focussed on their unique goals and needs.
To onboard most new students, we will spend our first few sessions reviewing and analyzing your recent games and also work on carefully selected diagnostic excercises. Once the onboarding is complete, I will give you a thorough diagnostic review highlighting your strenghts and challenges as well as a plan to help you level-up and achieve your chess goals. We will then work together on the custom designed program, adjusting and revising it as new skills are developed and new areas of opportunity for growth are identified.
To onboard most new students, we will spend our first few sessions reviewing and analyzing your recent games and also work on carefully selected diagnostic excercises. Once the onboarding is complete, I will give you a thorough diagnostic review highlighting your strenghts and challenges as well as a plan to help you level-up and achieve your chess goals. We will then work together on the custom designed program, adjusting and revising it as new skills are developed and new areas of opportunity for growth are identified.