The grown-ups in the room

Meet our chess coaches

Our coaches include Grandmasters, a FIDE Master and experienced teachers — patient, encouraging and brilliant with children. Each one is hand-picked, background-checked and trained in keeping kids safe online.

See plans · start for €5How coaching works
Vitaly Andreev, FIDE Master and founding coach at White Knight Academy
FIDE Master · Edmonton Champion 2024

Vitaly Andreev

Vitaly is a FIDE Master, the 2024 Champion of Edmonton, and our founding coach. With more than ten years of coaching experience, he is patient, encouraging and genuinely great with children.

He leads lessons for new students — turning first moves into real games and building the focus and confidence that keep kids coming back week after week.

  • FIDE Master
  • Champion of Edmonton (2024)
  • 10+ years coaching experience
  • Our founding coach, leading new-student groups
Julia Stasenko, Chess coach at White Knight Academy
Chess coach · FIDE 1939

Julia Stasenko

Julia has played chess since she was four and was a multiple girls’ champion of Odessa, Ukraine. She brings a player’s intuition and a teacher’s warmth to every lesson.

Her lessons review the student’s own games, strengthen the opening, middlegame and endgame, and sharpen calculation and tactics — always explaining complicated ideas in simple words. As she puts it, chess is for everyone.

  • Multiple girls’ champion of Odessa
  • Playing since the age of four
  • Focus on game review, tactics & calculation
  • Warm, beginner-friendly teaching style
Dimitri Komarov, Chess Grandmaster and FIDE Senior Trainer at White Knight Academy
Grandmaster · FIDE Senior Trainer

Dimitri Komarov

Dimitri has been an International Grandmaster since 1994 and a FIDE Senior Trainer since 2012, with more than thirty international tournament wins. Based in Edmonton, Canada, he teaches in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

He has coached at the highest level imaginable — training World Champions Alexander Khalifman and Ruslan Ponomariov, and rising stars such as Nihal Sarin. In 2015 FIDE ranked him the world’s number-four junior coach.

  • Grandmaster since 1994 · FIDE Senior Trainer
  • Coach of World Champions Khalifman & Ponomariov
  • 30+ international tournament victories
  • FIDE’s #4 junior coach in the world (2015)
  • Author of “Chess Openings Essentials” (4 volumes)
Yuriy Kuzubov, Chess Grandmaster and coach at White Knight Academy
Grandmaster · FIDE 2607

Yuriy Kuzubov

Yuriy is a Ukrainian Grandmaster who has played chess professionally for twenty years, reaching a peak live rating of 2700. He became Ukrainian Champion in 2014 and won gold with Ukraine at the 2021 European Team Championship.

He has worked at the very top of the game — helping former World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov at the 2009 World Cup and coaching Kirill Shevchenko early in his rise to Grandmaster. That elite experience now goes into patient, structured lessons.

  • Grandmaster · peak live rating 2700 (2017)
  • Ukrainian Champion (2014)
  • Gold, European Team Championship (2021)
  • World Youth vice-champion U14 (2004)
  • Coached future Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko
Eduard Andreev, Chess Grandmaster and coach at White Knight Academy
Grandmaster · FIDE 2514

Eduard Andreev

Eduard is a Ukrainian International Grandmaster (since 2005) who started playing at eight and became a national youth champion at under-14 and under-16. He has won and placed in dozens of international tournaments across Europe.

A dedicated trainer, he has coached at chess clubs in Ukraine and loves helping young players build a genuine understanding of the game.

  • International Grandmaster (2005)
  • Ukrainian U14 & U16 Champion
  • International Master at nineteen
  • Peak rating 2514
  • Years of club coaching experience
Carefully chosen

How we choose our coaches

A great kids’ coach needs more than a high rating. We look for teachers who are patient, genuinely enjoy working with children, and explain ideas in a way a child can feel click. Every coach is background-checked and completes child online-safety training before they ever meet a student.

What it feels like

A lesson with a real coach

Lessons are warm and encouraging, paced to your child rather than an algorithm. The coach notices the mistakes your child can’t see, explains the “why” behind a move, and celebrates progress — so children leave each lesson wanting the next one.

Good questions

Frequently asked

How are coaches vetted?

Every coach is an experienced teacher, background-checked and trained in online child safety. Lessons run in private, moderated video rooms.

Can we request a specific coach?

We match each child to the right coach by age and level. If you have a preference, just ask and we will do our best to accommodate it.

Group or one-to-one?

Most children thrive in a small group of peers (five or fewer). One-to-one coaching is available on request.

Can a parent sit in on a lesson?

Yes — parents are always welcome to join their child’s lesson.

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Online chess coachingAbout usOnline safety

Meet your child’s coach for €5

A real coach who knows your child, in a small group or one-to-one.

See plans · start for €5