A city guide to chess life in Perm
Chess schools, clubs and lessons in Perm
A full guide to chess in Perm: where to learn, how to find a coach, a chess club, a tournament or simply somewhere to play. Verified addresses of schools and clubs, plus the regional federation, coaches, tournaments and the history of chess in the city.
Useful for parents looking for a school for a child and for adults thinking about returning to the board.
One of the notable chess centres of the Kama region
Perm has the Anatoly Teryokhin chess school (Kuybysheva 54), whose founder has more than thirty years in chess teaching and is a former president of the regional federation. The Fenomen network covers three venues in the Sverdlovsky and Motovilikhinsky districts. The Favorit centre (Repina 69) provides the municipal format. Komsomolsky Avenue 37 houses the Olympic-reserve sports school and the Kama region chess federation.
Among the notable names connected with Perm is Alexandra Kosteniuk, the twelfth women's world chess champion (2008-2010). She was born in Perm on 23 April 1984; and it was here, under Anatoly Teryokhin, that international grandmaster Ildar Khairullin grew up.
Chess schools and clubs in Perm
The chess addresses of Perm: Anatoly Teryokhin's own school, the municipal Favorit centre, the Olympic-reserve school on Komsomolsky Avenue and the Fenomen network. Every card is a working organisation with public contact details.
Where there is chess near you
The chess addresses of Perm by administrative district - where to look for a school or a club nearer home or work.
- The Teryokhin school / Chess Perm - Kuybysheva St. 54
- The Olympic-reserve school and the regional federation - Komsomolsky Ave. 37
- The Favorit centre - Repina St. 69
- Fenomen - 1st Krasnoarmeyskaya St. 3
- Fenomen - 9 Maya St. 21
- The Chess Federation of the Perm Territory - Sibirskaya St. 1
- Fenomen - Yursha St. 86
When to start a child, and what to choose
Under the rules of most Perm schools, chess can start at four or five. The Teryokhin school and Fenomen take children from four - a playful introduction to the rules together with general intellectual development. Competitive training - the Olympic-reserve school on Komsomolsky 37 - comes later, after an initial assessment of level and interest. At the municipal Favorit centre chess sits alongside other sections.
What parents should look at: 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 at the trial lesson.
What chess gives a child
- ConcentrationA game is thirty to sixty minutes in a single focus. That is a skill in its own right, and it pays off at school.
- Understanding consequencesIn chess nothing happens «by accident». 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 an atmosphere of its own.
- Tournament experienceTravel, regulations, playing on the clock - all of it feeds a growing independence.
You can start from scratch - and nobody will laugh
The Anatoly Teryokhin school and the Fenomen network work with adults, from individual lessons to groups. The regional federation runs both amateur and serious competitions. There is also the city amateur format Vibe Chess, where you can turn up knowing only the rules.
You do not need a rating or a rank. Nor do you have to join a group - you can work one-to-one, or simply come to club meetups and amateur tournaments. Competitive chess and the amateur format are two different worlds; in the amateur one what counts is not the result but the fact that you turned up.
Lessons at a club or a school
Regular lessons, a programme, a coach - if you want it systematic.
An individual coach
The fastest progress and a flexible timetable. It costs more.
Club meetings
Casual games, company, city tournaments rated and unrated.
Vibe Chess
City amateur tournaments in cafes and bars. No rating requirements.
Online lessons
If travelling is awkward, there are online schools not tied to a city.
Studying on your own
Books, lichess or chess.com, going over your games - alongside the lessons.
How to look for a coach in Perm
We deliberately do not compile a «top coaches in Perm». There is no objective data for a ranking, and subjective selections are often misleading. Criteria for choosing are more use.
The coaches work at the schools and clubs listed above and can be contacted directly through their websites. There is also a pool of coaches at the Teryokhin school and at Fenomen.
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
A live word from parents or adult pupils beats a rating on an aggregator site. Ask friends and the VK groups.
District and format
For a child the journey is a big factor. Sometimes a good coach «right across town» works out worse than an average one round the corner. The alternative is online lessons.
Price
Prices vary widely: from around 700 roubles an hour with a beginning teacher to 3,000-4,000 an hour with coaches whose pupils have serious results.
An individual approach
At a trial lesson the coach should be asking questions about the pupil rather than switching straight into «the programme».
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» are a bad sign.
A trial lesson
Never buy a season ticket off a photo and a description. One or two trial lessons are standard.
A guide to chess tuition prices in Perm
The price depends on the school, the format and the coach's title. Below is a guide to the main formats of chess tuition in Perm.
A group at a private school
The starting range for group lessons at Perm's private schools. The particular package and the number of lessons depend on the programme.
The state Olympic-reserve school
The Olympic-reserve sports school for core and Olympic disciplines (Komsomolsky 37). The basic programme for selected children is subsidised or free.
The Favorit centre
A municipal autonomous institution of supplementary education. Chess is one of the centre's tracks; formats and prices are at favorit-centr.ru.
An individual coach, a beginning teacher
The starting price for individual lessons. Suitable for a first look.
An individual coach, candidate master or master
The mid-range for individual lessons in 2025-2026.
A Vibe Chess amateur tournament
City chess evenings in cafes and bars. Registration in the Telegram bot.
The chess federation of the Perm Territory
In Perm the official functions are carried out by the Chess Federation of the Perm Territory. Under its auspices come the main regional tournaments, a series for children in different age groups and liaison with the Russian federation.
Chess tournaments in Perm
The calendar lives in several places at once. Regional and city events are at permchess.narod.ru and the regional federation site. The big festivals include the Perm stage of the Russian Children's Cup («Development-Yug corporation prizes», 29 June - 7 July). All rated tournaments can be filtered in the ratings.ruchess.ru system by region 81.
What the formats are
Vibe chess in Perm
Vibe Chess runs city chess evenings in the cafes and bars of Perm. Short games, different opponents, real conversation between rounds. It suits anyone who wants to come back to chess without the atmosphere of an exam or the pressure of competition.
It is not a replacement for the classical schools but an addition to them. After a working week you do not want to sweat over the board - you want a good evening with a game and some interesting people. Vibe Chess has a page of its own for Perm 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 Perm
Notable dates in Perm chess - from the birth of world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in 1984 to her international career today.
Alexandra Kosteniuk is born in Perm - the future twelfth women's world champion and grandmaster.
Ildar Khairullin is born in Perm - the future international grandmaster. He would train under the Perm coach Anatoly Teryokhin.
The Favorit children's and youth centre opens (Repina St. 69) - a municipal institution of supplementary education with a chess track.
Alexandra Kosteniuk wins the European championship with a performance above 2600 and is awarded the grandmaster title.
Ildar Khairullin becomes an international grandmaster at sixteen.
Alexandra Kosteniuk is the twelfth women's world chess champion.
Alexandra Kosteniuk is a three-time Chess Olympiad winner with the Russian team.
From 1 January 2024 Alexandra Kosteniuk starts representing Switzerland.
Notable chess players connected with Perm
Names with a confirmed connection to Perm and the Perm Territory. Every card links to the source of the biography.
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 - can you realistically make the journey regularly. If not, online is better.
- 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 you: a group, one-to-one, online or a club.
School, club, coach or tournament - the differences
Frequently asked questions about chess in Perm
Where to learn chess in Perm?›
The city's addresses include the Anatoly Teryokhin chess school (Kuybysheva St. 54), three Fenomen branches (1st Krasnoarmeyskaya 3; Yursha 86; 9 Maya 21), the Favorit centre (Repina 69) and the Olympic-reserve sports school for core and Olympic disciplines (Komsomolsky Ave. 37). The regional federation is on Sibirskaya St. 1.
Which chess schools are there in Perm?›
On the state side there is the Olympic-reserve school on Komsomolsky Ave. 37. On the municipal side, the Favorit centre (Repina 69). Private: the Anatoly Teryokhin school / Chess Perm (Kuybysheva 54) and the Fenomen network with three branches in the Sverdlovsky and Motovilikhinsky districts.
Where do I find a chess club near me?›
In the Sverdlovsky district: the complex on Kuybysheva 54 (the Teryokhin school), Komsomolsky 37 (the Olympic-reserve school and the regional federation), Repina 69 (Favorit), and 1st Krasnoarmeyskaya 3 and 9 Maya 21 (Fenomen). In Motovilikhinsky: Fenomen on Yursha 86. In Leninsky: the regional federation on Sibirskaya 1.
Where should I send my child for chess in Perm?›
The Teryokhin school and Fenomen take children from four - a playful introduction to the rules together with general intellectual development. The municipal Favorit centre takes them from pre-school age. The Olympic-reserve school takes them later, after an initial assessment and a look at their interest in the competitive side.
Can an adult start playing chess from scratch?›
Yes. The Teryokhin school and Fenomen work with adults, on group and individual programmes. The regional federation runs both amateur and serious competitions. The gentlest way in is the Vibe Chess city chess evenings in cafes and bars.
How much does a chess coach cost in Perm?›
The price depends on the format and the coach's title. Individual lessons start at around 700-1,000 roubles an hour with a beginning teacher and run up to 2,500-4,000 an hour with coaches holding serious titles. Group lessons at private schools usually cost 1,500 to 5,000 roubles a month depending on the programme.
Are there tournaments for beginners?›
Yes. The regional calendar is published at permchess.narod.ru and the federation's own site. The «Development-Yug corporation prizes» tournament is a stage of the Russian Children's Cup held in Perm (29 June - 7 July). For amateur meetups with no rating requirements there is the Vibe Chess format in cafes and bars.
Where are the official chess competitions held?›
The venues include the Olympic-reserve school on Komsomolsky Ave. 37 (in the same building as the regional federation), the Teryokhin school on Kuybysheva 54 and the regional federation's venues on Sibirskaya 1. The calendar and entries go through the Chess Federation of the Perm Territory.
What is the Chess Federation of the Perm Territory?›
A regional public organisation responsible for developing chess in the Kama region. Its site is permchess.narod.ru. The address is Sibirskaya St. 1, Perm. Telephone +7 (342) 212-95-40, email permchess@mail.ru. The president is Igor Kirillov. Its former president, Anatoly Teryokhin, today runs a coaching school of his own.
What is the difference between a chess school and a chess club?›
A school is a system: a programme, a coach, regular lessons, an assessment and a route to tournaments. A club is a place to play, run into other players and get to local tournaments. In Perm the Teryokhin school and the regional federation's venues combine both roles.
Do I need a rating to play in a tournament?›
Amateur meetups are unrated and you can turn up from scratch. Tournaments rated by the Russian federation require the player to be registered in the system, through a club or the regional federation. Competitive events with norms need a confirmed rank or a permit.
Where can I play chess without the competitive pressure?›
The Vibe Chess city chess evenings are held in cafes and restaurants. The games are short (3+2 or 5+3), the levels vary, and nobody judges you after every mistake. It suits people coming back to the game or starting from scratch. Announcements and registration are in the Telegram bot.
Can I come to chess on my own?›
Yes, to all of the formats. Most people come to city chess meetups without company - the format connects you through the games. And coming to a school on your own is standard.
How do I tell whether a coach suits my child?›
Three signs. First, after a few lessons the child wants to go rather than digging their heels in. Second, between lessons they play by themselves, online or with their parents. Third, the coach talks to you as adults: sets out a plan and explains what is being done and why. Two out of three is already a decent sign.
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.
Anyone can be the organizer
There are no club or arbiter roles in the app: the create button is available to everyone. You can announce a tournament in Perm today and run it this weekend.
- 1Create the event, open sign-up, share the link
- 2Start the tournament - the app announces the pairing
- 3Record results as the evening goes
- 4Show the final standings and export the TRF report
- Swiss. when there are more than ten players and nobody should be knocked out
- Round robin. when the field is small and fairness matters most
- Free meetup. when you simply want to get together and play
More about chess in Perm and in other cities
Besides the schools and sections, Perm hosts the informal Vibe Chess evenings - short games and new acquaintances in cafes and bars, where you can turn up knowing only the rules. And below are guides to learning in neighbouring cities and a catalogue of openings for practice on your own.