I am a FIDE Master and chess coach.
300+
Tournaments played
$15000+
Won in tournament prizes
7
Top-5 National Championship Finishes
3
VA State Championship Titles
30+
Students coached
300+
Lessons given
2766
Chess.com Bullet Rating
2328
Peak USCF Rating
My chess journey started when I was 7 years old.
Since then, I have been playing chess competitively for 14 years and have been coaching for 7 years. I have participated in over 300 USCF and FIDE rated tournaments and have won many titles, most notably the Gold Medal at the Pan-American Chess Championships in Peru. I hold the FIDE Master title and the USCF National Master and Life Master titles and was a member of the All-American Team. I was invited to participate in the US Cadet Invitational Championships, the US Chess School in St. Louis, and represented team USA at the World Youth Championships in Slovenia. I am also the Vice President and Treasurer of the William and Mary Chess Club and the Captain and Coach of the Varsity E-sports Chess Team which just won the National Title. Chess is an important part of my life as it allows me to meet new people and make lasting connections.
Coaching
I am a Chess.com and USCF certified chess coach with over 7 years of coaching experience. Being mostly self-taught for the majority of my chess career, I understand what it takes to become a strong chess player and I am looking forward to working with you.
First Lesson Special
New students get a FREE first lesson to see if we will be a good fit ($10 travel fee for in-person lessons)
Standard Lesson Rate
After the first free lesson, I charge $50 an hour for online chess lessons ($10 travel fee for in-person lessons)
Bundle Rate
Buy 5 get the 6th free! This comes out to $250 for 6 one-hour online chess lessons ($10 travel fee for in-person lessons)
Interested in a free chess lesson? Feel free to contact me to schedule a coaching session.
Testimonials
Our experience has been nothing short of exceptional. Coach Trung has an incredible ability to connect with my kids, making each lesson both fun and educational. His patience, enthusiasm, and deep understanding of chess have significantly improved my children’s skills and confidence in the game. He tailors his teaching style to suit my child’s learning pace, ensuring concepts are fully understood before moving on to more advanced topics. Moreover, Coach Trung’s encouragement and positive reinforcement have instilled a genuine love for chess in my kids. His dedication to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment is truly commendable. It is evident that he is not only passionate about chess but also about mentoring and inspiring young minds. I highly recommend Coach Trung to anyone seeking a skilled and compassionate chess coach.
Parent of two students from New York
I have known Trung for about a year. During this time, he has coached my son (age 10), daughter (age 9), and even myself. We have all improved greatly. Notably, my son’s rating has nearly doubled to over 1100; both he and my daughter have won trophies in tournaments thanks to Trung’s lessons. Trung expertly coaches all aspects of the chess game. For openings, he sticks with main lines for our chosen openings and offers general advice for handling departures following chess principles. For middle games, he emphasizes developing a plan and exploring forcing chess moves. For end games, he reviews common situations and how best to play both sides. Trung has a strong command over the rules. After a couple of tournaments where my son encountered unusual situations (illegal moves in standard and Armageddon games), Trung explained the rules better than the tournament director and offered encouragement over a tough loss. Trung is a very reliable, polite, and professional chess coach. He is always on time. He also has a good report with children. I wholeheartedly recommend Trung as a chess coach for anyone looking to improve and learn.
Parent of two students in Virginia
Chess Profiles (Click)
Want to play some chess?
I love meeting new people and I love playing chess! Please don’t hesitate to reach out – all challenges are welcome!
“The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.”
-Paul Morphy