Coach Bio

Hello!

My name is Giovonni, but you can also call me Coach Merritt or Coach Gio. I’ve been a chess enthusiast for pretty much all of my life and a player of the game since I was 6 years old! I love chess and believe it's a great way to exercise your cognitive abilities, build intuition, and practice strategy all while having fun. The game of chess provides a safe competitive environment and challenges not only the brain, but our emotional and mental endurance as well. Chess teaches us self-accountability along with a practical way to view the power of your choices and how they may impact other things in relation to them down the road. There’s a saying I learned from a fellow chess player: “There’s chess on the board and there’s chess off the board (Life).” - chess contains a lot of transferable skills that could be used in our lives hence the end portion of that statement.

As you may have guessed I am also a Chess instructor with teaching experience spanning 7yrs in private lessons, school programs, and special training events leading to a string of successes in many tournament level competitions with my students. My lesson range covers pure beginner to advanced level with the ability to work with all age groups. I am still an active player so I bring the fiery energy of a competitor to my training approach. We begin the process by assessing where you are in terms of chess understanding and playing strength to chart the best possible path to your progress. Once measures are in place I will teach you all necessary concepts, ideas, and strategic principles to make you a competent player. If you have aspirations to become capable of tournament level play I am able to train you to reach that level as well!

Timeline of notable mentions and teaching achievements:

2014 - Began teaching chess lessons privately

2016 - Offered a teaching position and became one of the head coaches under National Master

Jerald Times at Rosalyn Yalow Charter School in Bronx, New York.

2018 (Jan) - My team of students take first place finishes in multiple divisions In the GNSYCC

2018 (Mar) - My team of students take 2 division titles at the NY State scholastic Championship

2019 (Jan) - My team takes 1 title in the NYC scholastic championship

2019 - I begin working with Success Academy to become the Head Coach of the Harlem 4 school for a year

2020 (Jan) - I become one the Head coaches of the PS 10 chess team

2020 (Sep) - During the pandemic Epic Chess is Born

And now ready to work with you on your journey to chess improvement!