I started to play chess at the age of 8. Soon after I began to attend a chess school in a local chess club ZSK Maribor. At the age of 14 I became a Slovenian junior champion U20. In 2004 I became Slovenian men champion. I represented Slovenia in 2 chess Olympiads (Bled 2002 and Calvia 2004). I started to work as a chess coach back in 2005 in a local chess club. After that I was cooperating with the Slovenian chess federation and Maribor chess company Šahohlačnik. I was an official coach in many World and European youth chess championships. Between 2013 and 2018 I worked as a head coach in Al Ain chess club (United Arab Emirates). During 2018 and 2020 I was closely cooperating with the European chess Academy Maribor and in 2020 I became its director.

I obtained the IM title in 2004 and FT title in 2009.

EXPERIENCES

European chess academy Maribor • 2018 and still working

Director, coach, organization

I am working for European chess academy since 2018. Mainly I was working as a coach in summer chess camps in 2018 and 2019. Apart from that I offered individual classes to the players ECA supported. I was also helping with the organization of events.

From 2020 I became ECA’s director.

ŽŠK Maribor • 2006 – 2010, 2018 and still working
Coach, Board member, Arbiter, player
In a local chess club I was working between 2006 and 2010. I was a head coach in the club. In 2018 I returned back to Slovenia and continued to work in the local club. I am a head coach and responsible for the most talented players. Many of them are medal winners in Slovenian youth championships. Apart from coaching I am a board member and an arbiter.

Al Ain chess&culture club • 2013 to 2018

Head coach

In Al Ain (UAE) I started to work back in 2013. I got the position of the head coach which means I was responsible for the most talented players. Together we won many local medals but mostly I am proud to win international medals in Asian amateur championship, Gulf championship, many medals in Asian school championships in Arab championships.

Šahohlačnik d.o.o. • 2009 - 2013
Coach and organizing events
With the local chess company I was cooperating between 2009 and 2013. Mainly I was working as a coach, teaching the most promising Slovenian juniors. We were working online, organizing chess camps and made a lot of individual trainings. Apart from trainings I was helping with organization of the European club cup 2011 and World youth chess championship in 2012.

Individual work • 2006 and still working
Trainer, captain, author
I am offering individual classes since 2006. I was coaching many players and many of them achieved great successes both at local and international levels. I am working with players from Slovenia, Korea, China and other countries.

I am also an author of trilogy The Power of Tactics together with GM Adrian Mikhalchisin.

Team work

I also have experiences with being team captain and trainer:

Captain of ŽŠK Maribor (best Slovenian club)
Captain of many team’s of Al Ain chess club (local and international level)
Captain of UAE women team in Asian games (Abu Dhabi 2016)
Captain of team Mauritius in Olympiad (Batumi 2018)

For more information please contact me here or on tadejsakelsek@gmail.com

Tadejsakelsek