GaryMcNamara

As my student you'll benefit from the very methods that allowed me to achieve FM title after virtually starting from my 20s at a 1700s level of understanding – without having to put the hard work of collecting and studying hundreds of chess books from zero.

If you want to learn and are willing to put in the work then I am ready to accelerate your climb up the chess ladder.

Junior career cut short --> Adult improver --> Successful coach --> FM

Personal achievements since returning to chess as an adult
     Took my national rating from 1700s to 2235 peak
     Debuted with a FIDE rating of 2084 and peaked at 2176
    1st 2010 City of Sydney Open
     Wins and draws against IMs and GMs
     =4th 2022 NSW Open (Among the prize money)
     =3rd 2022 Ryde-Eastwood Open (Among the prize money)
     FM title aged 38 via the 2023 Oceania Zonal
     =3rd 2024 NSW Open (=1st going into final round, undefeated including draws against 2 IMs and a performance rating of 2300)

Notable Student Achievements:
Student 1
     2011 NSW U18 Girls Champion 8.5/9
     2013 World Youth Chess Championship U16 Girls 4.5/11
Student 2
     2013 City of Sydney U12 Champion 11/11
     2013 World Youth Chess Championship U12 Open 5/11
Student 3
     2016 NSW U12 Girls Champion 9/9
     2017 NSW U18 Girls Champion 5/5 (U12 & U18 consecutively)
     2019 NSW U18 Reserves Champion 7/9
     Currently a top 20 female player nationally, both ACF and FIDE rating list
Student 4
     2017 Australian U8 Champion =1st win by playoff
Student 5
     2017 NSW U12 Girls Champion  8.5/9
     2018 NSW U18 Girls Champion 4/4 (U12 & U18 consecutively)
Student 6
     (second for) 2017 World Youth Chess Championship U16 Open 5.5/11
Students 7 & 8
     2020-2023 numerous prizes to a pair of siblings in Western Australia

My approach is influenced by a study of several top coaches (Dvoretsky, Dorfman, Zaitsev, Sokolov, Ramesh) and the science of learning, decision-making, expertise, sport psychology, and other areas that relate to improvement as a chess player. What I have kept from these coaches results a philosophy that prioritises traditional and timeless methods and abhors gimmicks. The bulk of my attention is on the mental process of a chess player – how one interprets the position in front of them, makes use of knowledge and experience, and attempts to reach a decision. My curriculum builds up the foundation and framework of knowledge systematically for a universal understanding.

I can be reached by message here at chesscom.