WFM Valeria Martinelli

Hi! I'm Valeria, an Italian chess player and Woman FIDE Master (WFM).

I started playing chess at the age of 14 and have gained nearly 10 years of over-the-board experience, competing in numerous national and international tournaments.

Alongside chess, I have a strong background in mathematics, which has contributed to my analytical approach to the game.

Among my main achievements, I finished 5th in the 2025 Italian Women's Chess Championship and 6th in both 2022 and 2023.

I was also part of the team that won the Italian Women's Team Championship in 2023 and 2024, and won my board's first prize for 6 years in a row.

These experiences have helped me develop a practical understanding of competitive chess, which I aim to share with my students.

I have been teaching chess privately since 2024, working woth both children and adult players. My teaching experience includes analyzing students' games, developing calculation skills, preparing personalized exercises and creating structured learning materials.

I also hold a chess instructor qualification recognized by the Italian Chess Federation (FSI).

My main areas of focus are tactical pattern recognition, calculation and game analysis. We can also work on building a personalized opening repertoire, according to one's playing style.

I particularly enjoy helping students recognize recurring tactical motifs, improve their decision-making process and understand the reasoning behind their moves.

My lessons are tailored to each student's level, strengths, weaknesses and goals.

I usually begin by analyzing the student's games, or playing a quick friendly match, to get a feeling of their recurring mistakes and areas for improvement. Based on this analysis, I prepare targeted exercises and lessons.

I also encourage students to develop their own thinking process rather than simply memorize moves or variations.

Progress is monitored over time, and the lessons are adapted accordingly.