Marina Cherkasova Chess Academy Paphos

♟️ Meet our new coach, Stepan Polyakov!

Stepan is 20 years old. For many years, he trained at White King Chess Academy under coach Arkadios, attended various chess training programmes, and regularly competed. He has won and placed in a number of youth chess tournaments across Cyprus.

Stepan graduated from Aspire School in 2024 and is now studying Computer Science at the University of Nicosia. He speaks Russian and English, is learning Chinese, and is also a keen golfer. He also has experience working with children, having helped coach a small badminton group last year.

As a young coach, Stepan understands his students’ interests and can build a good rapport with them. This academic year, he will coach the Knight and Bishop groups on Tuesdays and Fridays.

We are very happy to welcome Stepan to our academy team!

♟️ Meet our new coach, Evgenia Sazonova!

Evgenia began studying chess in March 2025, and it quickly became an important part of her daily life. Since then, she has played more than 7,000 (!!!!) games on Chess.com, trained regularly, carefully reviewed her games, and studied chess strategies and tactical ideas.

Evgenia still clearly remembers her own first steps in chess, so she understands which concepts may seem difficult to young beginners and how important it is not only to teach them the rules, but also to spark a genuine interest in the game.

This academic year, Evgenia will work with our youngest beginners, aged 6–8, teaching classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For the time being, she will teach Russian-speaking groups only.

Evgenia is also the mother of two children who are students at our academy, so she already knows our school very well as a coach and as a parent.

We are very happy to welcome Evgenia to our team and wish her every success in this new chapter!

📅 Our schedule for the 2026–2027 academic year is here! ♟️

Registration is now open for classes at Marina Cherkasova Chess Academy at ISOP.

We offer groups for different ages and levels: from young beginners to more experienced tournament players, as well as classes for adults.

Please note that this is our current schedule. New groups may be added throughout the academic year depending on demand and availability.

Not sure which group is the right fit for your child? Send us a message - we’ll be happy to help you choose the most suitable level.

♟️ See you at the chessboard!

♟️ Registration is now open for the 2026–2027 academic year!

At Marina Cherkasova Chess Academy, new groups are opening for children of all ages and skill levels - from beginners to advanced players.

🏫 And another important update: starting in September, our classes will take place at a new location — ISOP (The International School of Paphos)!

The schedule will be available on our website soon. And we will publish it here at the next post.

📝 The registration form is available via the link in our bio and here https://forms.gle/RjPbkH7okwTNTU2BA

We look forward to welcoming you to our new chess home! ♟️❤️

Meet the coaches of Paphos Chess Boost Camp.

Grandmaster Victor Bologan is one of the world’s most respected chess trainers and authors. A Grandmaster since 1991, he has consistently competed at the highest international level, reaching a peak FIDE rating above 2700 and ranking among the World Top 20 players. His tournament victories include the prestigious Aeroflot Open and Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, where he finished ahead of world elite players such as Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, and Peter Leko.

A long-standing leader of the Moldovan National Chess Team, Victor represented his country in 14 Chess Olympiads and has won more than 70 international tournaments throughout his career. Beyond his achievements as a player, he is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading chess educators, having authored 11 chess books and worked with players of all levels, from ambitious juniors to elite grandmasters.

Since 2018, Victor has served as the Executive Director of FIDE, contributing to the global development of chess. He holds a PhD in Sports Science with research focused on the training methodology of elite chess players.

One more week wrapped up. Two more left!
Our camp is the best smart camp in Paphos. Come and see for yourself!

Today is our professional celebration - International Chess Day! ♟️🎉

Wishing everyone beautiful games, brilliant combinations, unforgettable checkmates, and, above all, the joy of playing chess.

Whether you’re just learning the moves or competing at the highest level, may chess continue to inspire, challenge, and bring people together.

Happy International Chess Day! ❤️♟️

♟️ Pafos Chess Boost Camp 2026 is coming!

We're excited to support Pafos Chess Club, together with the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo, in bringing this international chess camp to Cyprus.

From 24–28 August 2026, participants will enjoy 30+ hours of intensive training with top coaches, followed by the Cyprus Rapid Championship (29 August) and the Cyprus Blitz Championship (30 August).

📍 Find more information and register at: https://pafoschess.com/boost-camp-announcement/

🎉 Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount until 15 July! Don't miss the opportunity to join an unforgettable week of chess in Paphos.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🌞♟️