Interested in Working for Chess4Life?
If you are interested in a job at Chess4Life please see our "Job Opportunities" section by clicking here.... | NM Elliott Neff
Elliott Neff, a mostly self-taught chess master, is well-read in chess literature and brings his extensive experience working with both younger and older players to the table in helping others achieve success in the chess world--and therefore, in life.
- United States Chess Federation (USCF) National Master ... |
NM John Graves
 John Graves started playing chess in 1986 and became a National Master only 3 years later in 1989. John is also a very enthusiastic and energetic chess coach.
Chess background:
3-time WAS State Junior Champion
Several years experience teaching group and individual lessons
... | WGM Anna Gershnik
 Anna has competed in many international events, including five chess Olympiads, winning the 1989 World Championships for Girls under 14, and placing 3rd in the 1991 World Championships for girls under 16. Training with many international masters and grandmasters, she achieved the Women's Grandmaster title in 1994.
"Chess provides lifetime benefits, espcially for children to develop their intellectual and interpersonal abilities."... |
NM Curt Collyer
 Curt Collyer is a National Master currently rated over 2300 and is one of Washington's top active players. In 2007, he tied for first place with Grandmaster Serper in the Washington Open, took fourth place in the WA State Championship, and won clear first in the Seattle City Championship.
Educational Background:
BA., Business (Accounting), University of Washington
... | Michael Hosford
 Experienced Chess Coach
Private and group lessons
Chess clubs
Chess camps
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Joshua Honeyman
 Joshua Honeyman has been teaching chess for seven years. He has extensive experience in not only group chess teaching, but also in private coaching, helping advise and analyze students' games and playing style to help increase their playing ability.
Motivated, high-energy instructor who loves both kids and chess
Works great with children, especially those of Elementary School age; knows how to maintain classroom control... | Roy Almasy
 Roy is a joyful and patient coach who has a passion for positively impacting the lives of children. While teaching, he is uses the game of chess to teach practical life lessons.
Teaching Experience:
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Gregg Dillingham
 Gregg has worked with NM Elliott Neff for the last five years, coaching at many schools, including:
Lowell School, Seattle
The Jewish Day School, Bellevue
St. Louise Parish School, Bellevue
... | Bert Rutgers
 Bert Rutgers, a coach with a strong chess background has been coaching for a few years and is one of the most successful coaches with beginner to intermediate students. Bert is a high energy coach who inspires and excites his students.
Education: BA in philosophy
Involved with scholastic chess since 1996... |
Brad Stensland
 Brad Stensland is currently a coach at Chess4Life. He has been teaching chess for a number of years. He joined the Snoqualmie Elementary School chess club as a second grader in 1987 when nobody in his family would play any games with him. He played second board from eighth grade through his junior year at Mount Si High School when he moved up to first board. He was undefeated on Board One as a senior and was in a three way tie for second place his senior year in Washington State’s High School Individual Tournament. With tiebreaks he ended up fifth in the state.
He has extensive experience working with children from his 15 years as a volunteer youth soccer coach as well as 11 years as a Camp Fire day camp counselor in the summer.
... | Matthew Warburg
 Matthew Warburg is currently a Head Coach at Chess4Life and has been playing chess since he was eight years old. A former high school social studies teacher, he is currently working on his doctorate in education at the University of Washington. He lives with his wife Maggie in Lake Forest Park and in his free time gardens, reads, and takes lots of cool photographs with his new digital camera.
Do you know what the difference is between GOOD chess players and GREAT
chess players? GOOD chess players focus almost exclusively on their own
attack and make the first good move they think they see. GREAT chess players think about defense just as much as offense and are patient enough to find the best move instead of settling for a merely good one. In essence, they are GREAT instead of GOOD simply because they have BETTER CHESS HABITS and make fewer mistakes!
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Hristo Arabadjiev
 Hristo is originally from a beautiful country in Eastern Europe called Bulgaria.
He first discovered his passion for playing chess when just 5 years old. When he was 19, he competed successfully against numerous national masters, resulting in an offer to represent Bulgaria in several international tournaments.
At the same time he also had a passion for music - it was a very tough decision, but Hristo chose to follow his musical passion first. He achieved a master's degree from The Music Academy in Plovdiv and became a conductor. Later on, he established one of the most famous professional chamber choirs for orthodox music called PHILIPPOPOLIS. For eighteen years, the group performed concerts all over the world including New York, Chicago and Tennessee. In Germany, the choir recorded five different CD's.
... | Brian Opalewski
 Brian has been coaching chess for the last four years and has taught at a number of schools with between 20-25 kids on average in his classes. He is an effective communicator and loves to teach.
Brian has taught at:
Louisa May Alcott Elementary
Bennett Elementary
Rosa Parks Elementary
Carnation Elementary
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Bob Reddick
 Bob started playing chess in 1942; played on the Roosevelt High School, Vicenza Italy Military, and Arlington VA. Chess Clubs teams.
Taught sons Greg and Gene - who can still beat him at speed chess, as can some second and third graders today.
Volunteer coach at Bryant Elementary since 1999 and now coaches at three schools, plus private lessons.
Judges at many local and state tournaments.... | GM Emil Anka
 Grand Master Emil Anka is a world class chess player and coach in Hungary that has visited Chess4Life a couple of times - he is always warmly welcomed as a guest!... |
NM Bruce Kovalsky
 Bruce is a highly qualified independent chess teacher. He became USCF National Master in 1983 and had a peak rating of USCF - 2278, FIDE - 2225
He has participated in the following events:
Board 4, Pan-Am Intercollegiate National Team Champions, U.C. Berkeley, 1981
... | GM Greg Serper - rating peak of 2713
 Grandmaster Greg Serper is the 2008 Washington State Chess Champion, and in his chess history became one of the four 1988 World Junior Chess Co-Champions. One of the top players and most sought after coaches in the country.
Major US tournaments where Grandmaster Serper took first or tied for first:
World Open - 1999, 2000
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Ethan Neff
 Chess Teaching
“Training tomorrow’s architects, doctors, and scientists!”... | Zack Khussainov
 Originally from Kazakhstan (a country where chess borders on being a national game), Zack has been actively playing chess for over 18 years, and has participated in many regional tournaments as a youth. He has coached chess for three years to children between the ages of 6 and 14. Possessing extensive knowledge of theoretical and practical Soviet chess school, Zack is committed to helping kids develop logical decision making and critical thinking skills. He believes that chess can be a powerful platform for nurturing intellectual and strategic talent for life.
Preferred teaching level: beginner to intermediate students of all ages and private lessons for those who would like to take their chess skills to the next level.
Other professional qualifications:... |
Conrado Julian
 Started out by teaching chess to his own kids, Conrado has now found a new passion in helping other kids. Conrado posseses an ability to capture a young mind and keep them engaged in every lesson he teaches. His son, Brian Julian in 5th grade( rated 1309) and his daughter, Erica Julian in 1st grade (935), are prodigies of his teachings. He now sets out to share the skills that he taught his own children to others.
Other affiliations:
... | Vishnu Warrier
Vishnu has played chess competitively for 8 years and enjoys working as a chess coach.
His peak rating is 1790.
He was also a WA Junior Blitz Champion.
Won first place in the 2009 Junior Open section.
Qualified for the '09 Junior Closed Tournament and the 2010 WA Premier.
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IM Eric Tangborn
Eric Tangborn is an International Master and a former Washington State champion. He grew up in Tacoma, Washington where he played on the chess teams at Jason Lee Junior High and Stadium High School.
Numerous great chess results including:
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