Education
Instructors
Our instructors range in playing strength and experience from intermediate tournament level all the way up to International Grandmaster. Most have participated in provincial and national championships and beyond. Some have professional experience producing training materials, editing chess magazines, and coaching at the provincial and national level.
Instructors are assigned to classes based on availability and experience level. All instructors have contributed to the creation of course materials and continually work towards further improving how we deliver our teaching curriculum.
Hansen, Eric
Eric Hansen is currently the #3 ranked Canadian with a peak FIDE of 2629. Eric became an FM in 2008, an IM in 2010, and a GM in 2013 after scoring three norms in a record three week period.
Eric has been a longstanding member of the Canadian Olympiad team, playing every event since 2012. Eric also has an impressive resume of national and international successes, including Alberta Champion in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. He shared first place at the Canadian Closed Championship in 2011 and 2015, as well as winning the 2012 Canadian Open and sharing first place in 2013.
Abroad, Eric has recorded many impressive results including 2nd place at the 2014 Reykjavik Open, shared 1st place at the 2013 Cappelle La Grande tournament in France, and a 2900 performance rating after scoring 8.5/9 to win the Panama Open in 2013. Eric also qualified to participate in the prestigious 2011 and 2013 FIDE World Cup, and has played for a number of professional club teams in Europe.
Matras Clement, Agnieszka
Agnieszka Matras Clement is a Woman International Master, one of the highest rated women in Canada, and the current Alberta Women's Champion. She has represented Canada at the 2018 Chess Olympiad. She was a member of the Polish national team at the 2001 U20 World Team Championships, and winner of the 2002 European U20 Rapid Championship.
She is a certified coach in Alberta and has more than 15 years experience teaching chess, including seven years as the head coach at a primary school in Poland. She has a Master's degree in teaching children and has published a book on teaching chess to children.
Drkulec, Vladimir
National Master (Canada and U.S.) and the President of the Chess Federation of Canada from 2013 to present. (CFC 2020, USCF 2078, FIDE 1847).
Experienced chess instructor and Windsor’s most active adult chess player looking for a few motivated students who wish to excel at tournament chess through a proven program of lessons and chess study.
Clear communicator with native born fluency in English. Teaches both theoretical and practical aspects of the game.
Have taken many students from beginner to contender, imparting in-class and private lessons.
Yam, Alex
2014 Alberta Chess Champion. Fide Chess Master. Achieved a CFC rating that is very close to 2400. 10+ years of experience coaching chess
I am very result-driven. I helped countless students achieve or exceeded their desired goals in chess. Some gained 1000 rating points in only a few years! Please phone me @ (403)829-3008 or email me @ backgammer@gmail.com for more details.