Mike Klein, director and founder of Young Master Chess, is a FIDE Master and Life National Master residing in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mike's taught chess for the past 15 years.  He currently teaches many Charlotte school chess classes and clubs, as well as summer camps in Charlotte and Chapel Hill.  From 2001-04, he was a full-time chess instructor for New York City's Chess-in-the-Schools program.  

In addition to teaching chess, Mike is a regular contributor to Chess Life Magazine and Chess Life Online where he researches and writes about many aspects of competitive chess.  He received his degree in journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He's eager to help your child benefit from chess while having fun and interacting in a positive way with his/her peers.

Accomplishments
As a player:

  • 1985 - Received first rating of 1398 (age five)
  • 1986 - Played Josh Waitzkin at the Nationals (creating a mention in the book "Searching for Bobby Fischer")
  • 1988 - National K-3 Champion
  • 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 - North Carolina High School Champion
  • 1996 - Received National Master and Life Master titles
  • 1996 - World Open Under 2250 Champion
  • 1997 - North Carolina Open Champion
  • 2003 - Land of the Sky Open Section Champion (Largest open tournament in NC)
  • 2006 - Received FIDE Master title
  • 8-time member of the All-America Chess Team (inaugural member)


As an instructor:

  • Taught more than 4,000 children and adults over 15 years
  • Instructor at more than 50 summer camps
  • Head coach of 2003 National K-8 Champion Team (David A. Boody Middle School - Brooklyn, NY)
  • Coach of 2003 National Sixth Grade Champion (Jayson Lian)
  • Coach of 2003 National K-8 Co-Champions (GM Alex Lenderman and NM Alex Pelekhaty)
  • Coach of 2004 National K-8 Champion (NM Alex Pelekhaty)
  • Coach of several National Champion junior varsity teams and top-five open section teams
  • 2003 Chess-in-the-Schools Instructor of the Year
  • Coach of numerous top-5 teams and individuals at NC State Scholastic Championships

 

When he's not at home in Charlotte coaching and studying chess, Mike loves to play tennis, bike and travel.  He recently completed a trip around world visiting 33 countries on 5 continents. Here's a video of his sabbatical.

Read about some of his international chess experiences:

"Castling Long Around the World"  Chess Life Online, September, 2009

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Chris Callahan was born and raised in Charlotte and has been teaching chess for 9 years in Charlotte and Mexico.
 
He has coached numerous Charlotte area schools to national scholastic tournaments and helped thousands of his students improve their game. He currently works with many Charlotte area schools and individual students. He´s also an active tournament player himself, who first played in the national scholastic championship at age 5 and continues to play in rated tournaments today.

Chris believes in a hands-on, high-energy teaching style where pupils are encouraged to try what they've been taught as soon as possible.

When he's not teaching, Chris enjoys playing basketball and reading.