Chess Academy - May 2025
🧠 Modern Chess Academy – May 2025 Edition
May 2025 brings another month of structured, top-level training at the Modern Chess Academy. With a focus on attack, combinational play, and practical endgames, this month’s program will sharpen your decision-making and boost your confidence in critical positions.
1) Strategy Wednesday
Topic: Must-Know Attacking Techniques
Coach: GM Ioannis Papaioannou
📅 Dates: 14.05.2025 and 28.05.2025
💡 Focus: Learn how to recognize, build, and execute powerful attacks in practical games. This month’s topic teaches key attacking patterns, sacrifices, and the strategic transition from buildup to execution.
Program:
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Must-Know Attacking Techniques – Part 1
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Must-Know Attacking Techniques – Part 2
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Must-Know Attacking Techniques – Part 3
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Must-Know Attacking Techniques – Part 4
🕤 21:00 - 21:30 | 15:00 - 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
2) Tactical Thursday
Topic: Combinational Vision and Spotting Silent Moves
Coach: GM Swapnil Dhopade
📅 Dates: 08.05.2025 and 15.05.2025
💡 Focus: Improve your tactical depth and creativity by learning to spot unexpected “quiet” moves that can change the course of a game. Master the art of blending threats with positional pressure.
Program:
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Part 1
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Part 2
📍 Paris Time | New York Time
🕠 17:30 - 19:00 | 11:30 - 13:00 – Part 3
🕢 19:30 - 21:00 | 13:30 - 15:00 – Part 4
🕤 21:00 - 21:30 | 15:00 - 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
3) Guided Practice
Topic: Converting a Material Advantage
Instructor: IM Siegfried Baumegger
💡 Focus: Improve your ability to convert winning positions by mastering various material imbalances and practical endgame techniques.
📅 Training Stages:
✅ 02.05.2025: 15 test positions (Stage 1 – Different Material Constellations)
✅ 09.05.2025: Annotated solutions for Stage 1 + 15 new test positions (Stage 2 – Extra Pawns)
✅ 16.05.2025: Annotated solutions for Stage 2 + 15 new test positions (Stage 3 – Endgame Conversions)
✅ 23.05.2025: Annotated solutions for Stage 3 + 15 new test positions (Stage 4 – Typical Mistakes)
✅ 31.05.2025: PGN file with solutions to all 60 positions + a 2-hour instructional video
4) Opening Lab
📅 Dates:
✅ 25.05.2025: Deadline to submit your opening questions to academy@modern-chess.com
✅ 31.05.2025: Receive expert video answers by GM Grigor Grigorov & GM Petar Arnaudov
💡 How It Works:
Academy members can submit their opening-related questions. Our team selects the most relevant and interesting ones and provides detailed video answers.
5) Mentorship Program
📌 Exclusively for 6-month subscribers
💡 The Mentorship Program offers personalized chess guidance, structured training plans, and monthly progress tracking.
How It Works:
🔹 Fill out the Mentorship Questionnaire (after subscribing)
🔹 Submit 20 recent games
🔹 Get assigned a mentor based on your style
🔹 Kickoff Meeting (30 minutes): Set goals, analyze games, build a plan
🔹 Monthly Check-ins (30 minutes): Review progress, update goals
📌 Who Can Join?
✅ New 6-Month Subscribers: Auto-enrolled after the questionnaire
✅ Existing Subscribers: Eligible immediately, with mentorship continuing even after expiry
💡 Why Join Modern Chess Academy?
✅ Live GM-led training in strategy & tactics
✅ Weekly Guided Practice – hands-on learning with annotated tests
✅ Opening Lab – answers to your personal opening questions
✅ Mentorship – one-on-one training & feedback
✅ Recordings, PGN files & full digital access for all training events
📌 Modern Chess Academy is your structured training platform.
💡 Join now and make May 2025 your most inspiring and productive chess month yet!