A city guide to the chess life of Omsk
Chess schools, clubs and chess lessons in Omsk
A big guide to chess in Omsk: where to learn, find a coach, a chess club, a tournament or simply a place to play. We have gathered verified addresses of schools and clubs, the federation, coaches, tournaments and the city's chess history.
Useful for parents looking for a school for a child and for adults thinking about returning to the board.
The city that gave Russian chess two grandmasters
The city has the state Sports School No. 15 with three addresses, the city chess club on Maslennikova, the regional chess federation (chess55.ru) and several private studios for children and adults. Since 1989 the Yakov Rusakov Memorial has been held every year in honour of the coach who laid the foundations of the Omsk chess school.
Omsk produced Vitaly Tseshkovsky - the city's first international grandmaster and a two-time champion of the USSR - and Vladislav Artemiev, a grandmaster and the 2019 European champion. Grandmaster Konstantin Landa was born and studied here too, and grandmaster Galina Strutinskaya spent her childhood and got her chess grounding in Omsk. Running alongside all this is the amateur format Vibe Chess: short tournaments in cafes and bars for people who want to play and talk without sporting pressure.
The chess schools and clubs of Omsk
The chess addresses of Omsk: a state sports school, the city club, a private association and studios at children's centres. Each card is a working organisation with public contact details.
Where there is chess near you
The chess addresses of Omsk by administrative district - where to look for a school or a club closer to home or to work.
- Sports School No. 15, main address (Gertsena 65/1)
- The Omsk Chess Association (Frunze 1 block 4)
- Raduga (Lenina 38)
- Sports School No. 15, branch (Maslennikova 23)
- The Omsk city chess club (Maslennikova 23)
- Sports School No. 15, the Levoberezhny branch (Dmitrieva 11/7)
When to start a child, and what to choose
The minimum age at most private studios in Omsk is 4: lessons for pre-school children are available at White Star, ROST, Olimp and the Master studio. Raduga and the Grandmaster library circle take children from 6-7. Sports training at Sports School No. 15 usually starts later, after an initial assessment of the child's level and interest.
What parents should look at before signing up: the age and level of the group, the coach, the district, the timetable, whether there is tournament practice, how many children are in the group and what the atmosphere is like.
What chess gives a child
- ConcentrationA game means 30-60 minutes in a single focus. That is a skill in itself, and it helps later at school.
- Understanding consequencesIn chess you cannot say «oops, that was an accident». Every move changes something, and a child learns to think a move ahead.
- Losing calmlyArguably more important than the wins. A child learns not to fall apart after a defeat and to try again.
- A communityThe child gets a circle of peers outside school and the courtyard, with its own atmosphere and rules.
- Tournament experienceTravel, regulations, playing on the clock - all of it feeds a growing independence.
You can start from scratch - and nobody will laugh
The Omsk Chess Association and the Omsk city chess club at Maslennikova 23 work with adults of any level, beginners included. Beyond that, the city has the amateur format Vibe Chess, which you can come to knowing nothing more than the rules.
You do not need a rating or a rank. Nor do you have to join a group - you can come to the club meetups and the amateur tournaments. Sporting chess and the amateur format are two different worlds; in the amateur one what counts is not your result but the fact that you turned up.
A group at a studio
Regular lessons and a coach - if you want something systematic.
City club
Casual games, company, city tournaments rated and unrated.
An individual coach
The fastest progress and a flexible schedule.
Vibe Chess
City amateur evenings in cafes and bars. No rating requirements, open to everyone.
A sports section
Sports School No. 15 takes adults too - if you want official sports training.
Studying on your own
Books, lichess or chess.com, going over your games. A useful supplement to lessons.
How to look for a coach in Omsk
We deliberately do not compile a «top coaches» list - there is no objective source for such a ranking, and subjective selections often do harm. Better to give the criteria to choose by.
The staff of the Omsk Chess Association include coaches with teaching qualifications and grandmasters. Serious coaches also work at Sports School No. 15, the school that brought up grandmasters Artemiev and Landa. You can contact them directly through the schools' details in the list above.
Experience with children
A child needs not the strongest player but the one who can explain. Ask how many children of that age the coach has taught.
Sporting title
Candidate master, master, international master are a guide but not a guarantee. What matters is the title combined with teaching experience.
Experience preparing for tournaments
If the aim is to travel for norms, you need a coach who has taken pupils to tournaments and understands the regulations.
Reviews and recommendations
Word of mouth from parents or adult pupils beats a rating on an aggregator site. Ask people you know and in parents' chats.
District and format
For a child the journey is a big factor. Sometimes a good coach «across the whole city» works out worse than an average one near home.
Price
In the city the range runs from a free library circle to 400-500 ₽ for a single lesson at the private studios. The ratio of price to the task at hand matters more than the price itself.
An individual approach
At a trial lesson the coach should be asking questions about the pupil rather than switching straight into «the programme». If that is missing, be wary.
Communication with parents
With a sensible coach it is clear what you are doing, why, and how progress is going. Answers along the lines of «all fine, keep going» are a bad sign.
A trial lesson
Never buy a season ticket on the strength of a photo and a description. Almost everywhere in Omsk you can attend the first lesson as a trial or free of charge.
A guide to chess tuition prices
The price depends on the studio and the format. Below are the actual prices for a single lesson at the main studios in Omsk.
Raduga (Lenina 38)
Group lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays for children aged 6-18.
Olimp (Komarova 13)
A chess group for children aged 4-12, combined with an art studio.
White Star (three venues)
The first lesson is free. The price depends on the venue: Tukhachevskogo, Mendeleeva or Krasny Put.
ROST (6th Liniya 97)
Lessons on Sundays for children aged 4-12.
The Master studio (3rd Molodyozhnaya 69/1)
Age groups from 3-4 up to 15-16.
The Grandmaster circle (at the library)
Lessons on Wednesdays at the R. Rozhdestvensky library, for children aged 7-18.
Sports School No. 15 (state)
The sports school runs sports training programmes; some of the places are publicly funded.
The Omsk Chess Association
Group and individual lessons; the staff include grandmasters.
A Vibe Chess amateur evening
Chess evenings in cafes and bars. Registration in the Telegram bot.
The chess federation of Omsk and the region
Unlike some other cities, Omsk has no separate city federation - a single regional organisation does the work. The tournament calendar and the news of the city's chess life are also kept by the omskchess.ru portal.
Chess tournaments in Omsk
The tournament calendar lives in several places: regional competitions at chess55.ru, city news and results at omskchess.ru, and national tournaments at ruchess.ru. Below is where to look and what formats there are at all.
What runs regularly in Omsk
Vibe chess in Omsk
Vibe Chess is a series of chess evenings in the bars and cafes of Omsk. Short games, a variety of opponents and real conversation between rounds. It suits people who want to come back to chess without the atmosphere of an exam and without sporting pressure.
This is not a replacement for the classic schools but an addition to them. After a working week you want not to sweat over the board but simply to spend a good evening over a game and meet interesting people. Vibe Chess has a separate page for Omsk with all the rules of the format.
What a «vibe tournament» means
- Short games: 3+2 or 5+3.
- Several rounds in an evening, with different opponents.
- The levels vary - nobody has to be strong.
- Between games you can talk and order a coffee or a drink.
- You can come on your own - that is the normal way of it.
- Registration and announcements are in the Telegram bot.
The history of chess in Omsk
Only verifiable events, with no embroidery. If any of the dates turn out to be inexact, we will correct them.
Yakov Rusakov, evacuated to Omsk during the war, begins training in the chess section at the Omsk Palace of Pioneers - he would later become the coach who laid the foundations of the Omsk chess school.
Omsk-born Vladimir Pozdnyakov achieves the USSR master of sport norm and becomes champion of Omsk and the Omsk Region.
Konstantin Landa is born in Omsk - the future grandmaster and a pupil of Yakov Rusakov at children's sports school No. 15.
Vitaly Tseshkovsky receives the international grandmaster title - the first Omsk player to do so.
Tseshkovsky becomes champion of the USSR twice.
Yakov Rusakov dies in Omsk - the coach whose pupils included grandmasters Galina Strutinskaya and Konstantin Landa and international masters Eldar Mukhametov and Ivan Smykovsky.
In memory of Yakov Rusakov, Omsk holds the first memorial tournament in his name - it has run every year since.
Vladislav Artemiev is born in Omsk - the future grandmaster and European champion, a product of Sports School No. 15.
On 24 December Vitaly Tseshkovsky, the first Omsk grandmaster, dies in Krasnodar.
Vladislav Artemiev becomes European champion and wins the world team championship with the Russian team.
Omsk holds the first V. S. Pozdnyakov Memorial at classical time controls.
Well-known players connected with Omsk
Only confirmed names, each with the nature of the connection stated: «born here», «a product of the school», «spent their childhood in the city». The sources are in the cards.
A checklist for choosing a chess school
For parents
- The age and level of the group - will the child land somewhere interesting for them.
- The coach - do they have experience with children of that age, and do they ask about your child.
- The district - is it realistic to travel there regularly.
- The group's level - is the average level even, or will the child be «the weakest of all».
- Tournament practice - is there a plan to enter local events.
- The atmosphere - after the trial lesson the child wants to go again.
- Price and package - what is included, what is not, and whether there is a trial lesson.
- The timetable - does it fit around school and other activities.
- Reviews - live ones are better, not only from an aggregator.
For adults
- Whether there are adult groups, not only children's.
- Whether you can come from scratch - literally knowing only the rules.
- Whether there is a casual-play format, not only lessons.
- An evening timetable - can you get there after work.
- Whether the competitive pressure is heavier than you want.
- Whether there are amateur tournaments - for your own motivation.
- Whether the format suits: a group, individual lessons or a club.
School, club, coach or tournament - the differences
Frequently asked questions about chess in Omsk
Where can you learn chess in Omsk?›
State sports training is at Sports School No. 15 (Gertsena St. 65/1, with branches on Dmitrieva and Maslennikova). The private options are the Omsk Chess Association, the White Star club (three venues), the studios at the Raduga, ROST, Olimp and Master centres, and the free Grandmaster circle at the R. Rozhdestvensky library.
Which chess schools are available in the city?›
The state one is Sports School No. 15, with three addresses. The city chess club at Maslennikova 23 takes both children and adults. The private ones are the Omsk Chess Association, White Star and the Raduga, ROST, Olimp and Master studios. The contacts and timetables are in the school cards above.
Where do I find a chess club near me?›
Look by district: in Central there are Sports School No. 15 (Gertsena 65/1), the Omsk Chess Association (Frunze 1 block 4) and Raduga (Lenina 38); in Oktyabrsky, the branch of Sports School No. 15 and the city chess club (both at Maslennikova 23); in Kirovsky, the Levoberezhny branch of Sports School No. 15 (Dmitrieva 11/7). See the «Map of the chess places of Omsk» table.
Where can you send a child for chess in Omsk?›
The minimum age at most studios is 4: White Star (at one of its branches), ROST, Olimp and Master. Raduga and the Grandmaster circle take children from 6-7. Children usually enter sports training at Sports School No. 15 a little later, after an initial assessment of their level.
Can an adult start playing chess from scratch?›
Yes. The Omsk Chess Association and the Omsk city chess club at Maslennikova 23 work with adults of any level, including complete beginners. Beyond that, the city hosts the amateur Vibe Chess chess evenings, which you can come to knowing nothing more than the rules.
How much does a chess coach cost in Omsk?›
At the private studios a single lesson costs between 250 and 500 ₽: 250 ₽ at Raduga, 300 ₽ at Olimp, 300-500 ₽ at White Star (the first lesson free), 350 ₽ at ROST and 400-500 ₽ at the Master studio. The Grandmaster circle at the library is free. Lessons at Sports School No. 15 on the sports training programme are usually publicly funded for the children selected.
Are there tournaments for beginners?›
The city chess club at Maslennikova 23 regularly runs tournaments for players of different levels. The calendar of upcoming regional competitions is at chess55.ru/future, and the news and results at omskchess.ru/category/competitions. For those who want to play with no rating requirements there is the Vibe Chess format.
Where are the official chess competitions held?›
The regular venues are Sports School No. 15 and its branch at Maslennikova 23, and the Omsk city chess club at the same address. Memorial tournaments run every year - the Ya. D. Rusakov Memorial (since 1989, at the end of July) and the V. S. Pozdnyakov Memorial (since 2021, at classical time controls) - along with a series of Grand Prix rapid tournaments.
What is the regional chess federation?›
The Omsk Regional Chess Federation (chess55.ru) is the only official federation in the region; its president is Oleg Borisovich Zolotov. There is no separate city federation in Omsk: its functions are in practice taken on by the regional federation and the city chess club.
What is the difference between a chess school and a chess club?›
A school is a system: a programme, a coach, regular lessons, assessment of your level and a route into tournaments. A club is a place to play and meet other players; tuition may be part of it but need not be. The Omsk city chess club combines both formats.
Do I need a rating to play in a tournament?›
It depends on the tournament. The amateur chess evenings need no rating and you can come from scratch. Tournaments with Russian Chess Federation rating calculation require registration in the system - a club or the federation can arrange that. Rank tournaments for young players are run by age category through Sports School No. 15.
Where can I play without the competitive pressure?›
Vibe Chess is a series of chess evenings in the bars and cafes of Omsk. The games are short, the players' levels vary and nobody is judging the result. It suits people who want to come back to the game or to start from scratch. The dates and addresses are in the Telegram bot.
Can I come to chess on my own?›
Yes, to all the formats. Most people come to the club meetups and the Vibe Chess city evenings without company. Coming alone to lessons at a school or a studio is standard practice too.
How do I tell whether a coach suits my child?›
Look at three things. First, after a few lessons the child wants to go rather than digging their heels in. Second, between lessons they play by themselves: online, with their parents, with their toys. Third, the coach explains the lesson plan to you rather than answering in monosyllables. One or two trial lessons before buying a season ticket are normal practice at almost every studio in the city.
Solve a chess puzzle
Mate in one - a real position from a chess database. Solve it and see if you're a fit for us.
Three event formats in one app
The Vibe Chess app is built for an evening over the board, not for online play: it keeps the sign-up list, the pairings and the table while you deal with people and the venue. All of it free.
- 1Create the event and save the venue for next time
- 2Open sign-up, players arrive through the link
- 3Start the tournament and the app announces the pairings
- 4Keep entering results, then take the final table and the TRF file
- Swiss system. score groups, no rematches, no two byes in a row
- Round robin. everyone plays everyone, the app works out the number of rounds
- Free meetup. who is free and who is already at a board is shown under Now
More about chess in Omsk and in other cities
Besides the schools and sections, Omsk hosts the informal Vibe Chess evenings — short games and new acquaintances in cafes and bars, which you can come to knowing only the rules. And below are guides to lessons in neighbouring Siberian cities and a catalogue of openings for practice on your own.