9 Best Chess Coaches in the World
This article highlights individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of chess talent
There are two primary types of chess coaches: those who guide students to Grandmaster titles and those who nurture beginners, cultivating a love for the game and potentially developing future chess champions. While the former often involves refining existing skills, the latter requires a deep understanding of fundamental concepts and a patient approach to teaching.
Despite the countless chess coaches worldwide, identifying the absolute best is challenging. The list of chess coaches who trained players to become Grandmasters and world-class players follows.
Mark Dvoretsky
A famous chess author, writer, and chess coach. Dvoretsky wrote 10+ high-quality chess books and helped multiple players with his training including:
Garry Kasparov
Viswanathan Anand
Veselin Topalov
Evgeny Bareev
Joël Lautier
Loek van Wely
Vladimir Chuchelov
A Grandmaster from Belgium, Vladimir Chuchelov is renowned for his exceptional coaching skills and deep understanding of the game. He has a proven track record of helping players of all levels achieve their full potential. "Strategic Balance" course which has been designed by Chuchelov himself is the starting block for beginning your work with this world-class trainer. Chuchelov has worked with some of the world's top chess players, including:
Anatoly Karpov
Vladimir Kramnik
Garry Kasparov
Jacob Aagard
A renowned chess coach and co-founder of Quality Chess, Jacob Aagard is celebrated for his comprehensive instructional materials. His "Grandmaster Preparation Series" is a cornerstone of many chess players' studies. Aagard's dedication to coaching is evident in his online program, Killer Chess Training, which offers daily chess insights. Notable students include:
GM Sabino Brunello
GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly
GM Samuel Shankland
Ivan Sokolov
Originally from Yugoslavia, Ivan Sokolov is a Grandmaster who has represented the Netherlands since 2010. His coaching experience includes working with national teams and individual players, such as GM Alireza Firouzja. Sokolov's contributions to chess education extend beyond his coaching role, encompassing authored books and online courses. His notable students and teams include:Salem Saleh
Alireza Firouzja
Iran's National Team
Uzbek's National Team
RB Ramesh
Indian Grandmaster RB Ramesh gained prominence after his student, Praggnanandhaa, defeated Magnus Carlsen. Ramesh's Chess Gurukul Academy in Chennai has produced numerous Grandmasters, including:
Aravindh Chithambaram
Karthikeyan Murali
Praggananadhaa R
Mikhail Shereshvesky
A Russian International Master, Mikhail Shereshvesky's "Endgame Strategy" is a highly regarded reference. His expertise has benefited numerous Belarusian chess players, including
Aleksei Aleksandrov
Elena Zaiatz
Tatyana Grabusova.
László Polgar
László Polgar, the father of the renowned Polgar sisters, is celebrated for his unconventional approach to education. His belief in nurturing talent through focused training and early exposure to chess led to the extraordinary achievements of his daughters. He taught chess to his 3 daughters who became world-class chess players
Judit Polgar
Susan Polgar
Sofia Polgar
Alexander Goleshchepov
Alexander Goleshchepov is a Ukrainian chess player and a very famous chess coach. He trained and made 11 Grandmasters and 15 International Masters. Most of his students are from India. His notable students include:
Negi Parimarjan
Sethuraman SP
Raunak Sadhvani
Aditya Mittal
I have tried to include all world-class chess coaches in this list. Let me know if I missed anyone and I will add it to the list. Thank you
for reading.
