What is Training Squad?
The Chess Kids Training Squad is targeted at talented junior chess players rated between 800 and 1400 (usually aged 8-13) who are intending to improve by at least 200 rating points in the next 12 months.
This extremely successful training squad program runs (and shares resources) in Melbourne, Hobart and Perth. There is an online component to the training which enables isolated and regional players to take part as well as acting as a resource for self-study. One of the most important aspects of chess improvement is to have a good peer group. You can only be as good as the people around you. The Training Squads encourages social interaction, friendly rivalries, competition, self-study and formal training. And thanks to the internet these interactions can be Australia wide... This is a serious program which requires players' commitment to tournament play, training and homework/self-study. |
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Online Lessons - try it outYou can join in the online lessons without having to attend a Squad Session. This is perfect for kids who are geographically isolated from good chess coaches. The cost of attending the live sessions is only $60 per term (book for 12 months and get 12 month gold subscription to www.chesskid.com/aus).
This Webinar is held every week on Thursday, 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM AEST. Below you'll find the first lesson from 2013 as a taste. Private Coaching with an International MasterThe Training Squad Private Coach is IM James Morris. He provides one-on-one coaching with our top students on regular or casual basis.
Grandmaster RB Ramesh - World Championship CommentatorAs players reach 1200-1400 they can progress from an International Master coach to a Grandmaster coach.
GM Ramesh has a training school in India which has already produced 3 Grandmasters as well as a host of young prodigies. Only 5 students in Australia get the opportunity to work with GM Ramesh. |
Where are they now?Our first Training Squad program started in 2012 and had 6 players. They all had junior ratings around 800-1000 and either no, or very low, adult ratings. So after 2 years where are they now?
Five (5) of the six (6) have progressed out of junior events and play almost exclusively in open/adults events: Their adult ratings are Rebecca Strickland 1484, Gary Lin 1639, Ryan Kam 1456, Max Phillips 1296 and William Maligin 1492 - as promised, all got to 1400+ last year. The sixth player, Lachlan Martin improved his junior rating to over 1200 before chess took a back seat to his state cricket commitments. Haran Salasan (who joined the second squad in 2013) just won the 2015 Australian Under 14 Championships! Student Results in 9 months: Mar-Dec, 2012Gary Lin - first ACF (adult) rating of 1413, Chess Kids rating increase +294 points! =3rd U14 in Australian Junior.
Ryan Kam - first ACF (adult) rating of 1185, finished =1st Vic Junior U12 Michael Gershenzon Chess Kids rating was 667 now 1006 = 339 points increase! Finished =4th U10 in Australian Junior. Max Phillips ACF (adult) rating was 816 now 1120 = 304 points increase! Finished 5th place U12 in Australian Junior and =1st Victorian Junior U12 Haran Salasan ACF (adult) rating was 661 now 1054 = 393 points increase! Rebecca Strickland ACF (adult) rating was 738 now 1011 = 273 points increase! Finished 3rd place U14G in Australian Junior. The AVERAGE rating increase of the more than 50 students around Australia was: Chess Kids rating +103.7 and ACF (adult) rating +121.6 
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Feedback from students
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