Coach Phil

When I was 8-years-old my dad taught me chess. Although I was fascinated by the game, I didn't take it seriously until the Summer of 2015 when I joined a local chess club in Cape Coral, FL and began to compete in tournaments throughout Florida. A few years later, in January of 2020, I finished 3rd in the master's section of the 6th Annual Gulf Coast New Year's Open in Ft. Myers, FL. With this result my classical rating rose to 2050 and I officially became a chess expert! Since then, I've gone on to become a Candidates Master and my peak rating has been as high as 2089.

Nowadays I balance my time as a player and a coach. I work with more than a dozen students both online and in-person. I also work with several schools and senior living facilities throughout Greater Orlando.

My mission is to share the joy of chess with as many people as possible. My approach to coaching is personal and structured. I attentively work with my students to figure out their strengths and weaknesses and from there teach them how to think with discipline and creativity! Furthermore, I assure that no stone is left unturned, which means every phase of the game is covered including, but not limited to the opening, middlegame, endgame, tactics, psychology and time management.This comprehensive approach is important for the player who wants to win!

Ultimately, I know what it's like to want to improve and I know I can help you do that based on my knowledge, experience and passion for the ancient game. For more information check out my profile on uschess.org or follow me on nobleknightschess.com. You can also learn more about me on my chess.com account where you can access my games, books collection and so much more!