Prodigy Program - January 2015 Registration Open!

This is a fully updated article regarding Chess.com University's Prodigy Program. Please read this post in its entirety whether you have already registered for the Prodigy Program or are reading about it for the first time. Most importantly, registration for all three sections of the Prodigy Program is now open.

Want your child to become a chess prodigy? Yes? So do we! Or are you an adult and want to master chess yourself? Great, we will get you there! Read on to learn more about our program.

*Chess.com University's Prodigy Program*

Master Chess at Any Age, Within 5 Years

This online super-coaching program by Chess.com University is designed to create chess prodigies out of youth players and take them, or any chess player, to master-level within 5 years. By offering high-quality live lessons, detailed study plans, relevant homework, and unlimited guidance from our world-class team of coaches, we have created a program that can take any chess player from beginner to master within 5 years! The Chess.com University Prodigy Program is not a program exclusively for youth players. 

Important Information:

- Taught by Kairav Joshi, Chess.com's officially best-selling coach and President of Chess.com University, along with FM Dalton Perrine, NM Dane Mattson, and several GMs. Grandmasters involved include former USCF (U.S. Chess Federation) President GM Maxim Dlugy and former Ukrainian National Champion GM Valeriy Aveskulov. Many other GMs such as top Bulgarian trainer Dejan Bojkov, 2013 U.S. Open Co-Champion Mac Molner, and several other top players and coaches will likely be involved in the Prodigy Program after a few months. Note that the GMs will only be guest instructors during the earlier stages of the program. They will be actively involved once the program reaches advanced material.

- At least 12 hours of live online classes per month spread out over 8 sessions. The live lessons will also be recorded so students can review them.

- Detailed weekly study plan (an awesome 7-page PDF sent each week!)

- An online correspondence tournament each month.

- A simul each month.

- Students' games analyzed.

- Full email support for all students. Unlimited guidance and tips!

- Tuition: $150/month per student.

- Live lessons will be taught mostly on weekends between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM PST (Pacific Standard Time U.S./Canada).

- The 900 ELO and 1200 ELO sections of the Prodigy Program launched with over 100 kids and adults in December, 2014. However, new students are able to join in during any month. Each month is designed to be a course it itself making it easy for new students to join. Key topics covered in the Prodigy Program in December include fundamental endgames such as K Q vs. K, K R vs. K, K B B vs. K, and other basic endgames involving edge pawns. Several lessons have also focused on tactics, forcing moves, basic planning, general principles of chess, and how to calculate and analyze. During the January 2015 month of the Prodigy Program, the material in the 900 and 1200 sections will continue to focus on tactics and endgames with some coverage of openings. The 900 and 1200 sections will be different in terms of rigor for obvious reasons. Prospective students who would like to join the 900 or 1200 section starting in January should have a good understanding of topics already covered. Those who haven't grasped the fundamentals yet should instead purchase the December 2014 material first and go through the recorded version of the program for that month prior to joining the January section. If you would like to purchase the December 2014 material for the 900 or 1200 section, send an email to kairavjoshi@chess.com.

- The 900 and 1200+ USCF/FIDE sections resume on January 3rd, 2014.

- The new 1500+ ELO section begins on January 10th, 2014 at 10 AM PST with a live orientation session. This new section officially launches on January 10th so students still have a chance to be part of the first group of students.

Note: ELO refers to the standard over-the-board rating system. Rating systems that are used by FIDE, USCF, CFC, etc., are ELO or similiar to ELO. Online ratings tend to be inflated, sometimes heavily at the lower rating levels.

Understand that what we are offering is indeed a prodigy program or in general, a beginner-to-master program. Adults who join the program have an excellent chance at achieving that elusive chess master distinction. Parents who sign up their kids can (and should) expect their children to improve at chess very quickly. We expect all students to become state champions for their age group and strong contenders for national and international titles. I myself have sent an 8-year-old student to the world youth championships and have numerous student competing and winning at the state and national levels. Let me tell you that we can certainly make your child a chess prodigy too!

Our prodigy program will continue for a long time. Students can join in or opt out at any time. We expect that youth players who study in our program for a few years will end up being among the best players in their age group. But those who only study with us for a few months will still improve by leaps and bounds. Our rate of $150/month offers unbeatable value. With our detailed, guided study plan in addition to the live lessons, the amount students learn each month may be equivalent to about 25-30 one-on-one hourly lessons with coaches. If the typical skilled coach charges $30/hr, that would cost $900/month!

With Chess.com University, it is $150/month and that is paying for the highest-quality of chess instruction available anywhere. That is paying for neverending tips and guidance. That is paying for the opportunity to learn from the best chess coaches while also getting a chance to interact with top chess players. Certainly, we will have super-GMs, perhaps even former world chess champions, as guest instructors too! If you truly love chess and want to get better quickly, sign up for the world's best chess-learning program!

The Chess.com University Prodigy Program can take someone who is playing chess for the first time to expert or master level within five years. How is that possible? Like this:

Year 1: 0 --> 1100

Year 2: 1100 --> 1550

Year 3: 1550 --> 1850

Year 4: 1850 --> 2050

Year 5: 2050 --> 2200

Is that really possible? Actually, probable. 12 hours of chess lessons per month with the best chess coaches amounts to 720 hours of fun, amazing, live chess learning in 5 years! Let's add 10 hours of chess homework per week. That's 2,600 hours of studying chess during those 5 years in addition to taking 720 hours of lessons. And don't forget that all of that studying is based on our recommendations meaning it is all highly beneficial studying. For some, only a few years would be enough to reach master-level!

For parents considering whether to enroll their children, do you know that some universities award scholarships (even full-ride scholarships) for excellence in chess? Completing our program may lead to excellent savings in college. Actively studying and playing chess stimulates the mind immensely. This exercises the brain, enhances it, and keeps it healthy! In fact, playing chess has been linked to reducing the chances of getting Alzheimer's and Dementia. In education circles, playing chess has been linked to academic benefits. Many countries are integrating chess into their school curriculum. Armenia has made chess a mandatory school subject for k-12 students. Playing and studying chess is indeed highly beneficial. But in addition to all that, it is a fun hobby! As an educator and educational entrepreneur in the process of founding a fully accredited university, let me tell you that an investment in chess is well worth it, especially for the youth.

Here are comments from former USCF President and #1 blitz chess player GM Maxim Dlugy regarding the Prodigy Program:

"By designing the Prodigy Program, Chess.com University has created a brilliant solution for chess players around the world. By offering lectures, training sessions, game analysis sessions, homework, and guided study plans all in an organized manner, the Prodigy Program enables easy and efficient chess learning."

"Technology has made it easier than ever to learn and improve at chess. I wish such programs existed when I was a young and ambitious chess player!"

"If you want to make your chess study productive and want to become a strong chess player, I highly recommend joining Chess.com University's Prodigy Program."

Sections and the Placement Exam:

There are three separate sections that will be in session in January.

Section 1: 900 ELO or above (those near 700-800 are also allowed to join). This section resumes on January 3rd, 2015.

 
Section 2: 1200 ELO or above. This section resumes on January 3rd, 2015.

NEW! Section 3: 1500 ELO or above. This is a new section and will launch on January 10th, 2015 at 10 AM PST with a live orientation session. Note that this section is rather advanced compared to the first two.

Don't have an official over-the-board rating?

What about those who don't have an ELO rating and are not sure which group is best for them? Is a 1200 Chess.com correspondence rating high enough for our 1200 group? A 1200 Chess.com correspondence rating would be closer to 900 ELO but we have a better solution than simply guessing how ratings translate across different systems.

We have written a placement exam. Individuals without official ratings who want to join the 1200+ or 1500+ sections should complete the placement exam and achieve a satisfactory score. Those who do not score high enough for the 1200+ or 1500+ sections are advised to join the 900 section. There is no minimum rating required to join the 900 section. However, students must know the rules and basics of the game.

What should a 1100 USCF rated player who didn't pass the 1200 section's entrance exam do? In this case the player would have two options: sign up for the 900 section or join the 900 section one or two months later. Though, it is better to join right from the beginning. For a 1700+ USCF rated player, all of our sections would be a bit basic. In this case, the player can join the 1500 section immediately or wait a few months until the class reaches 1600+ material. If you would like to sign up for the first month of the Prodigy Program but don't have an official rating and don't know which section is best for you, go ahead and take the placement exam.

The placement exam has been posted in the Chess.com University group on Chess.com:

http://www.chess.com/news/prodigy-program-placement-exam-ready-3294

That link will only work for Chess.com University members. If you are not a member, click here to join and then follow the link given above.
 

January 2015 Registration:

Registration for January, 2015 is now open for all sections of the Prodigy Program. We accept payment via check, money order, Bitcoin, credit/debit card, and PayPal. If you would like to mail a check or money order, contact GeniusKJ on Chess.com or send an email to kairavjoshi@chess.com.

In order to send payment for January 2015 (any section) using credit/debit card or PayPal balance, please use the following link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=S9VEBJKVJGNRS

If you pay online, please message GeniusKJ on Chess.com AND email kairavjoshi@chess.com immediately after you send payment to confirm your PayPal email address. Also include your real name and the contact email address you would like us to use. Please indicate which section you want to join.

Discounts and Commissions:

We offer family discount. We also give 10% commission on valid, successful referrals. Students who studied Chess.com University's Chess 012, Chess 013, Chess 014, and/or Chess 024 courses are eligible for a special one-time discount. Contact us for more info.

Sign up for the Prodigy Program today and start your journey of becoming a chess master!

Contact Chess.com University by sending a message on Chess.com to GeniusKJ or sending an email to kairavjoshi@chess.com.