About

About me

My name is Valery Filippov and I am an international Grand Master with a 2656 USCF and a 2553 FIDE rating. I have been teaching online and OTB chess for 19 years. My best achievements as a player:

* In 2000, I became the champion of the world amongst students.
* In 2003, I joined the top 10 of the strongest chess players in the USA rating.
* In 2005, I entered the top 50 of the best chess players worldwide.

I have the tremendous experience of performances and victories at various international tournaments. I also participated in the Russian national team at the international chess Olympics in 2004. Among my competitors, there were the strongest international chess masters such as Michael Adams, Alexander Grischuk, Etienne Bacrot, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Leko, Peter Svidler, and others. About my teaching experience: I started teaching in 2004. I spent 9 years working at the Russian chess club. Since 2013, I have been teaching online. During this time, my students increased the rating by more than 5,000 points. I helped some students receive their first international chess titles (category). Others were interested in improving their online rating at chess com. My students repeatedly became champions of chess clubs, cities, and even states.

My Coaching Approach & Philosophy

As a gm chess coach, I believe in a hands-on approach to training. No two players are similar, hence every lesson considers your goals, abilities, and areas for advancement. Today, I teach my students:

1. Openings – to learn openings based on understanding, not memorizing
2. Middlegame Strategy – to plan, make weak points, and take decisions
3. Endgame Mastery – because many games end here and have principles and practical techniques
4. Game Review & Feedback – to discover mistakes and improve – together
5. Training & Play – play systematically and learn from your games
6. Know the Classes – read lessons and watch chess masters to learn a strategic way of thinking

Coaching Formats: Live & Remote:

Online Chess Coaching (Live)

One-on-one video lessons (usually 60 minutes, sometimes up to 90–120 minutes for advanced students) through Teams or Google Meet with a digital chessboard and visual teaching materials.
I give exercises every time to practice what you have done in class and keep each set of tasks completed for future revision.

Remote Chess Coaching (Self-paced)

For students who like to work at their own pace, I provide a more structured program with lessons, exercises, and regular feedback.
This is perfect for motivated students from other time zones.

Who Can Benefit

• Beginning players (≈ 7 and up) who want a patient, structured introduction to chess.
• Skilled and serious advanced players in need of assistance with opening prep, tournaments, or in-depth analysis.
• Adults of any ambition who want to raise their rating online, get better at casual play, or chase serious titles.

Why Train with a Grandmaster Coach?

There’s no shortage of chess resources online, but they seldom can match the insight from a coach who has played at the highest levels. My tournament experience, opening prep, and nerves are what allow me to bridge the gap between theory and practice in a way that’s often absent from books or videos.

I’m not only looking to show you moves but also to help you think and decide for yourself, as well as to see ideas and develop creative problem-solving when playing OTB. Many of my students tell me: “Working with you changed the way I see chess.”

My Vision

Chess is a bit more than a game — it’s an open-ended pursuit. Whether you have a goal to simply get better for fun, win in competition or work towards belts one day; I believe any student can achieve more than they think with the right guidance, consistency and fire. I will be on that journey as your grandmaster chess coach.

A Personalized Grandmaster Approach to Chess Improvement

As a Grandmaster and a professional chess coach, I have discovered one essential thing over the years: every chess player has their own path. There is no single right way to approach training. Therefore, my method as a Grandmaster coaching chess lessons is profoundly individualized. I focus on your strengths, weaknesses, learning style, and long-term goals.

For some of my students, this means winning local tournaments and elevating their ratings consistently. For others, long-term success means feeling confident over the board, appreciating the beauty of strategy, and developing focus through structured chess coaching methodology. Whether you aspire to compete at the most challenging tournaments or to play chess online for beginners solely for the purpose of self-improvement, I make sure that you make a step forward in every class.

Online lessons with students have also been a revelation. It turns out we are even more effective this way than during in-person training. With the help of technology, we are able to analyze games in depth, solve interactive exercises, learn theoretical positions, and go through your training plan with no distractions. For eager students, this ensures steady progress and, most importantly, true understanding of chess — not just tricks.

I have helped children prepare for national championships and guided adult beginners to their first tournament successes. I have supported advanced players as they were chasing the final requirements for their FIDE titles. No matter your current level, my goal as an online coach is to assist you on your journey to real chess understanding, help you feel comfortable in complex positions, and understand how a stronger chess player thinks.

Moreover, chess is not just openings and memorized moves. It is patience, logic, discipline, and creativity — and these skills will follow you long after the game ends. Many students I have taught have shared that the concepts they learned during our chess courses later helped them make important decisions in their careers and in life in general.

If you are ready for the next move, I will be grateful to be your partner on your journey. When we walk this path with proper guidance, a plan, and practice, the amount of success you can achieve is merely a matter of time.