Meet the Masters
Experienced
Every coach has a track of positive reviews
Professional
All of them go through our Special Dev Program.
FIDE Masters
National, International, Women's and Grandmasters.
3-time Junior National Champion, rated 2500, 12 years of experience coaching.
Misha Vilenchuk
National Master, Founder of MM Chess
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Hong Kong International Open Champion with 8.5/9. Early-childhood psychologist
Luis Medarde
FIDE Master
Psychologist
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5-times National Champion. Ranked 8th best player of his country.
Fabian Vivas
FIDE Master
Olympic player
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World U14 Champion (1999), Champion of Ukraine (2006).
Zahar Efimenko
Grandmaster
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What we stand for:
The mind is our most valuable tool, and excersicing it nowadays tends to be harder and harder... and expensive.
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Chess should be accessible to everybody! As the premier brain-weightlifting sport, chess it's a superb tool for the development of memory, concentration, strategical thinking and sportmanship.
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How do we teach chess?
We teach using holistic ways, so more than playing games, we set our students up for success by increasing their chances of admissions, and using the adquired skills in other areas of their lives.
It is also important that we follow a role-model approach for kids, that's why all of our coaches are award-winning athetes from a young age.
Why is MM the best choice for chess lessons?
You can consider MM as the perfect choice not for a single attribute, but because we offer the best balance between quality and affordability.
If you’re a lifelong learner, just watched The Queen's Gambit, have wanted your kids to learn the game, or have always wanted to beat your dad and siblings, you now have a chance to improve become that player.
Is chess good for kids?
Builds self-improvement habits in a fun and rewarding way.
Reinforces a child's education, intellect, and sportmanship.
Becoming a top-10% player helps them realize their true potential!
Fun fact: Only 10% of players are rated over 1200elo
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What is MM Chess?
Our mission
Chess should be accessible for everyone, no matter the budget. In our case, top quality, at a price that is unbeatable by comparable academies.
"Back in 2020, when the world went online, I had the idea to look for top-notch players from around the world who had coaching experience and what we call "winner attitude", train them and create a company that could work as a concierge for them, thus, MM Chess was born."
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-Misha Vilenchuk. Founder of MM Chess, 3-time national junior champion, chess Master and coach for over 12 years.
How it all started
MM Chess as a company
We are a US-established company based in Chicago. Although we do offer collaborations with schools for in-person classes, our main focus is online.
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We are happy to meet you and talk. Contact our Director at director@mmchess.org
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What makes MM Academy qualified to teach?Head Coach Misha Vilenchuk developed a system to find the best chess masters to teach from around the world. As a result, we select instructors based on the following qualifications: A Master-level player as certified by FIDE or a national chess federation Strong communicative skills in English Emotional intelligence (& the ability to adapt lessons as needed) Experience teaching chess to children Trained by the MM Professional Development Program Find all of our coaches here
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How are payments done?Our 200+ students use Stax for payments. You can see what they have to say here.
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What process is used to teach at MM Chess Academy ?Our teachers believe in a systematic approach. We focus on building analytical skills by introducing one new concept at a time and assigning homework throughout the week. The teaching is rooted in the Chess Steps curriculum.
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How can I take the trial?You can either fill out a form on our website or schedule directly with us. For that, we need: The best time for you, and your time zone. Level of the student. Age of the student. Your email address and phone number (we don't send you spam). We’ll send a $10 invoice link over so you can pay in advance as a confirmation fee. We can accept Venmo or Zelle for the trial, but regular payments are done via invoice (Stax Payments) After the trial, the MM Coach will send the guidelines for enrolling in private lessons
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Do you teach adults?Of course! We have coaches for all skill levels and ages. From total beginners to aspiring Masters.
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Why I should choose MM Chess Academy ?MM Chess Academy is unique. 1. We hyperfocus on each individual student. 2. We follow a systematic process, rooted in the Chess Steps curriculum. 3. We are certified Masters. 4. We have a simple payments system.
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How online lessons work?Classes are taught using our own platform. In it, you will have the video call, chessboard, quizzes, studies, and more; all in one place! ​ After you select a plan, our team will get in touch via email and connect you to a coach, who will send you links and details about the class.
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What is the price range for these classes?Classes are $38/h if you buy individually or as low as $32 if you buy in a package. Weekly classes for a month (4 classes): $150 Bi-weekly classes for a month (8 classes): $260 Weekly classes for two and a half months (10 classes) $340 We offer alternative packages for 30-minute and 45-minute classes. No auto-renewal. Class credits never expire. Classes are 100% cancelable with advanced notice.
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Do you also do this for autistic children?Yes! We have some kids on the spectrum and one teacher that specifically works with a few kids with autism/learning disabilities.