RICHMOND CHESS CHAMPIONS

Coaching Team

HEAD COACH MAX

Hi! I am Max, an International Master and active tournament player rated 2386 FIDE. In 2022 I earned my title with 3 straight IM norm performances and reached #7 on the Canadian national rankings. peak classical FIDE rating is 2436, and my peak Lichess Bullet rating is 2915. I have 8 years of experience coaching players of all levels, including top finishers at the Chess Challenge and CYCC. Let’s improve together!

COACH JASON

COACH JASON (NATIONAL MASTER)，Coached by GM (FIDE peak: 2650+);

Over 20 years of chess experience, CFC rating of 2260;

Very strong foundational skills, and a dedicated teaching attitude.

2025 Vancouver Chess Festival 10 Open Section Co-Champion

2025 Fraser Valley Classical 1 Open Champion (6 out of 6)

2024 Greater Vancouver Chess Tournament 5 Premier Section 3rd place

2024 Western Canadian Open Premier Section Co-Champion

COACH LUKE

6 time Canadian Scholastic Chess Champion

● Winner of Canadian Youth Chess Championship

● Placed top 20 at the World Youth Chess Championship

● International Chess Team event 2nd place performance.

Lead Chess Instructor with 8+ Years of Teaching Experience

Current President of UBC Chess Club

COACH JOE

With over 15 years coaching experience, Joe is still as interested in the game as ever. He is a Candidate Master, an arbiter, a TD, an organizer, coach and competitor. Recently Joe represented BC in BC vs AB and BC vs WA.

COACH JAMES

James is humbled and ecstatic to be part of the Chess minds team. Still a student of the game, he hopes that his students can share that same passion to never stop learning, stay hungry and follow their dreams.

James has 20 years experience coaching in public and private schools and has worked with students that have represented BC and team Canada.

COACH LIZA

Yelizaveta Orlova (also referred as Liza) is one of the top-female players in Canada. She represented Canada numerous times at the World Youth Chess Championship, World Chess Olympiad and other international events. Orlova is an experienced chess coach for over 10 years, teaching kids and adults of various levels.

COACH ASHTON

Hi my name is Ashton Taylor, I am an active member in the chess community and have over 5 years of teaching experience in private lessons and school groups (online and in person). My cfc peak rating is 2218, (lichess peak 2589). I have competed in many events such as the 2024 canadian championship and represented the province in matches such as BC vs Alberta and BC vs Washington.

COACH DENIZ

Deniz Ozcifci is a FIDE Arbiter and a chess teacher with many years of experience teaching chess in schools. She is very patient and skilled at encouraging students. She really enjoys learning chess with children.

COACH MARTIN

Coach Martin is an active chess player and teaches chess in schools across Vancouver. He enjoys working with kids to help them achieve their goals on the board.

COACH FELIX

Coach Weijia (Felix) has been playing in chess tournaments since he was 5 years old. Hailing from Qingdao he has solid openings and strong chess fundamentals with a chess.com and lichess rating of over 2200 and puzzles rating of over 3200. Weijia has been a student of Chinese GM Ma Qun and but stylistically he admires Super GM Arjun Erigaisi.

He currently coaches the advanced level kids in Mulgrave and Stratford IB schools and is fluent in both English and Mandarin. He is a Computer Engineering major from McGill University with GPA 3.9+ and hopes to share his knowledge and passion in chess to the younger generation.

COACH：CLEMENT

Coach Clement have more than 10 years of experience teaching youth about Coding, Math and Chess.
And have taught the above subjects at various learning centers, public and private schools in the Greater Vancouver area.

COACH CALLUM

Coach Callum has been an active member in the Canadian chess community for the past decade having achieved the National Candidate Master title. He has competed at the highest level nationally, and has played in tournaments all across North America. For the past four years, Callum as taught over 100 students ranging from beginner to intermediate about the game of chess. He thoroughly enjoys sharing his passion for the game with others.

Assistant Coach & Arbiter: May

May serves as the Chess Club President at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, where she has led her school team to numerous competitive victories. With years of experience as an Assistant Coach at RCC, she excels in both one-on-one and group instruction, combining deep tactical knowledge with proven teaching methodologies.

As a seasoned tournament player and tournament arbiter, May brings firsthand competitive insight to her coaching. Recent achievements include:
• 1st Place, 2025 RCC Elite Championship (U1600 Section)
• 2nd Place, 2025 VCS BC Chess Challenge Provincials (G9)
• 2nd Place, 2025 BC Youth Chess Championship (Girls U16)

Volunteer Register

VOLUNTEER

We are seeking enthusiastic chess enthusiasts to join our volunteer team! Whether you excel in event organization, publicity, teaching guidance, or social media management, we welcome your involvement. Let's share the joy of chess together and work collaboratively to drive the activities and development of the club. Volunteer certificates can be provided. Interested individuals, please contact us via email: richmondchesschampions@gmail.com

We look forward to your participation!

Seeking:

Are you a passionate and experienced chess coach? If you are someone enthusiastic, skilled in igniting students' interest and potential, we welcome you to join our team.

Please send your resume to richmondchesschampions@gmail.com

indicating "Chess Coach Application." We look forward to creating a fantastic future in chess together with you!

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