Tony Carpinter is a retired IT Manager with a long-standing passion for chess, both as a player and a mentor. He is a member of the Canterbury Chess Club, where he contributes actively on the committee, and is also a registered FIDE Trainer. Alongside coaching, Tony has been closely involved in supporting the local chess community, including primary, intermediate, and secondary school events in Christchurch, as well as major competitions like the New Zealand National Championships.

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As a competitive player, Tony has achieved strong results over the board. In recent years, he has been honoured to win titles such as All Canterbury Champion, South Island Rapid Champion, and New Zealand Veterans Champion twice. He brings this practical playing experience into his coaching, helping students improve with real-world strategies and a clear understanding of the game.

Arun developed a love for chess over the years and founded the University of Canterbury Chess Club (UChess) in 2014. He is a licensed National Instructor (NI) accredited by World Chess Federation (FIDE) and is an active member of the Canterbury Chess Club. 

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His passion for the game was re-ignited after the chance encounter with Magnus Carlsen in Copenhagen, Denmark while walking down a crowded street and extended to volunteering at the 44th Chess Olympiad in his hometown Chennai, India in 2022. His travels around the world have given him an appreciation of the value of chess in breaking down barriers and his education up to PhD level an insight into the usefulness of chess as a tool to promote student success and well-being.

Anish Ansari is a National Instructor (NI) and International Arbiter (IA), as well as a Certified Chess Trainer through the Indian Chess Federation and the Indian School of Chess. With a FIDE Standard Rating of 1615, he combines competitive playing experience with a strong understanding of structured chess education and tournament preparation.

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Over the past five years, Anish has taught students across schools and online chess academies, helping develop more than 50 FIDE-rated players. He is passionate about nurturing young chess talent and focuses on practical improvement through disciplined training, game analysis, and real tournament guidance.

Ronny Lukman is a professional chess coach and former international player from Indonesia, with over 30 years of experience in competitive play and high-level coaching across Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia. His current FIDE rating is 2217, with a career-high of 2350. He represented Indonesia at the World Junior Chess Championship in France (1983), and has won titles including the International Tournament in Saint-Lô, France (2008), the St. John's University Championship in New York, USA (1999), and the Indonesian Junior & Senior National Championships, along with West Java and Inter-University Championships. His international coaching experience includes roles as Professional Coach at Power Chess, Singapore (2020–2021), Instructor at Hoboken Chess School, New Jersey, USA (1999–2001), and Owner & Head Coach of Kursus Catur Ronny Lukman, Indonesia (2023–Present).

Ronny's coaching has produced strong results, including two students who became Asian Junior Champions and Gold Medalists (2023–2024), one student who represented Indonesia at the Chess Olympiad 2024, and many students who became Indonesian National Champions. He offers Elite Youth Clinics and Intensive Training Camps, group and individual training, and lectures on openings, strategy, and endgames. He also prepares young players for national and international tournaments, and supports school programs, simultaneous exhibitions, and club promotions—bringing his 30 years of experience and international network to help raise players' level.

Dr. N. Krithika is a renowned chess coach, National Instructor, Arbiter, Chess Champion, and motivational leader with over a decade of coaching experience. She served as the Team Leader for the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mahabalipuram, Chennai, and is the Founder and Director of Phoenix Trinity Academy and Phoenix Chess Academy. A Gold Medalist in MBA Finance from Loyola College, she combines strategic thinking with a passion for developing players of all ages.

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Dr. Krithika specialises in advanced chess training, including tactical combinations, middle-game strategy, and endgame mastery. Her coaching combines interactive learning, personalised guidance, tournaments, and real-time game analysis to help students reach their full potential. She also founded the Chess Gym and Adult Clubhouse to make chess more accessible, and her students have achieved success at both national and international levels, including winning titles such as Best Female Player U12 Blitz Chess Berlin.