A city guide to chess life in Vladivostok
Chess schools, clubs and chess lessons in Vladivostok
A big guide to chess in Vladivostok: where to learn, how to find a coach, a chess club, a tournament or simply somewhere to play. We have gathered verified addresses of schools, clubs and the federations, along with information about 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.
A city with a history and a well-developed network of chess schools
Vladivostok has more than 12 chess schools and clubs - from the free municipal sections at the Palace of Pioneers and the Chayka centre to private networks with several venues: Chess Time, Fenomen, Yozh and Sutormin Chess. Two chess federations operate here: the city one (dvchess.ru) and the regional one (primchess.ru).
Vladivostok gave the world the first international grandmaster of Asia and the Far East - Alexander Zaitsev (1967). In 2006 Dmitry Batsanin received the IM title at 15. Today Sutormin Chess is active under the current FIDE master Danila Sutormin, rated 2406. In parallel Vibe Chess runs in the city - amateur chess evenings in cafes and bars.
Chess schools and clubs in Vladivostok
The chess addresses of Vladivostok: free municipal sections, private schools with several venues and professional clubs. Every card is a working organisation with public contact details.
Where there is chess near you
The chess addresses of Vladivostok across five districts - where to look for a school or a club nearer home or work.
- Ladya (Svetlanskaya 147 and Shefnera 2a)
- The Palace of Pioneers (Okeansky 43)
- Yozh (Yumasheva 12 bldg 2)
- Sutormin Chess (Pushkinskaya 21A)
- Maestro (Kirova 52)
- Etyud (40 Let VLKSM 12)
- Sutormin Chess (Avrorovskaya 24)
- Chess Time (Ostryakova 13, offices 304 and 314)
- Chess Time (Kalinina 230)
- Viktoria (Kotelnikova 10)
- The Chayka centre (Ilyichyova 26)
- Intellekt (Russkaya 65/4, office 39)
- Fenomen (Yaltinskaya 18)
- Yozh (Neybuta 8g and Russkaya 65/4)
- Fenomen (Krasnogo Znameni 25a)
- Fenomen (Nerchinskaya 32)
When to start a child, and what to choose
Fenomen takes children from 3. Chess Time, Yozh, Etyud and the other private schools take them from 5. The Palace of Pioneers takes them from 8, free of charge. The municipal Chayka centre also offers free lessons for children.
What parents should look at before signing up: the age and level of the group, the coach's experience with children of that age, the district and how realistic the journeys are, the schedule and whether there is tournament practice.
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 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 experienceCity and regional competitions - about growing independence and responsibility for every move.
You can start from scratch, and nobody will laugh
Chess Time (chesstimevl.ru), Intellekt (Russkaya 65/4) and Sutormin Chess work with adults at any level. There is also Vibe Chess - city amateur meetups in cafes and bars with no rating requirements.
You do not need a rating or a rank. You can go to a coach individually or join a group, attend club meetups and amateur tournaments. Competitive chess and the amateur format are two different worlds; in the amateur one what is judged is not the result but the fact that you came.
A group at a school
Regular lessons, a programme, a coach - if you want it systematic.
An individual coach
The fastest progress and a flexible schedule. It costs more than a group.
Club meetings
Casual games, company, city tournaments rated and unrated.
Vibe Chess
City amateur tournaments in cafes and bars. No rating requirements, open to everybody.
Online lessons
If travelling is awkward, some schools and tutors offer an online format.
On your own
Books, lichess or chess.com, going over your games. A useful supplement to lessons.
How to look for a coach in Vladivostok
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 serious coaches work at the schools listed above - particularly at Sutormin Chess (FM Danila Sutormin) and Chess Time. In Vladivostok you can find coaches at a range of levels and prices.
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, FIDE master, international master - a guide but not a guarantee. What matters more is the combination of title and teaching experience.
Experience preparing for tournaments
If the goal is to work towards rank norms, you need a coach who has taken pupils to regional and national competitions themselves.
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 across the whole city works out worse than an average one near home. The alternative is online.
Price
Prices vary. The ratio of price to goal matters more than the price itself.
An individual approach
At a trial lesson the coach should be asking questions about the pupil rather than launching straight into the programme. If that does not happen, 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 from a photo and a description. One or two trial lessons is the standard.
A guide to chess tuition prices
The price depends on the school, the coach's level and the format. Below is a guide to the main formats of chess tuition in Vladivostok.
The Palace of Pioneers and the Chayka centre
Municipal institutions. Chess sections for children within free supplementary education.
Fenomen chess school
A private network with three venues. Children from 3.
Chess Time
A private school with two venues in the Pervorechensky district.
Sutormin Chess (FM Sutormin)
The chess centre of FIDE master Danila Sutormin (rating 2406).
An individual coach
Private coaches in Vladivostok.
A Vibe Chess amateur tournament
City chess evenings in cafes and bars. Registration in the Telegram bot.
The chess federations of Vladivostok and Primorye
Vladivostok is home to the city chess federation (dvchess.ru) and the regional one, the Chess Federation of the Primorsky Territory (primchess.ru).
Chess tournaments in Vladivostok
City tournaments are on the site dvchess.ru. The regional calendar is at primchess.ru. National competitions are at ruchess.ru. Below is where to look and what formats there are.
What the formats are
Vibe chess in Vladivostok
Vibe Chess runs city chess evenings in the cafes and bars of Vladivostok. 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 Vladivostok 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 Vladivostok
Only verifiable events, with no embellishment.
Alexander Nikolayevich Zaitsev is born in Vladivostok - the future first international grandmaster of Asia and the Far East.
Alexander Zaitsev receives the FIDE international grandmaster title - the first player of that level from the Asian part of the USSR and the Far East. He studied chess on his own, without a coach.
Alexander Zaitsev becomes RSFSR chess champion - the highest achievement in the Russian championship for a player from Vladivostok.
The Vladivostok player Dmitry Batsanin twice won the Russian junior championships (under-12 in 1995 and under-14 in 1997) and took bronze at the world championship.
Dmitry Batsanin receives the international master title at 15 - one of the youngest IMs in Russia at the time. On 20 December 2006 the Vladivostok City Chess Federation is founded (dvchess.ru).
On 5 August Andrey Alexandrovich Stepanov is elected president of the Vladivostok City Chess Federation.
Andrey Stepanov is re-elected president of the city federation. By this point more than 10 chess schools and clubs were working in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is actively developing the private sector of chess education: Chess Time, Sutormin Chess and Fenomen open - networks with several venues across different districts.
Notable chess players connected with Vladivostok
Only confirmed names, with the nature of the connection stated: «born», «worked», «coaches».
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 the same, or will the child be the weakest there.
- Tournament practice - is there a plan to move on to city and regional tournaments.
- 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 Vladivostok
Where can you learn chess in Vladivostok?›
The city has more than 10 chess schools and clubs. The free sections are the Palace of Pioneers (Okeansky 43) and the Chayka centre (Ilyichyova 26). Paid: Chess Time (chesstimevl.ru), Fenomen (vl1.fenomen-chess.ru), Sutormin Chess (sutorminchess.ru), Ladya, Yozh, Intellekt, Kaissa, Maestro, Etyud and Viktoria.
Which chess schools are there in Vladivostok?›
Municipal: the Palace of Pioneers (Okeansky 43, free) and the Chayka centre (Ilyichyova 26, free). Private: Chess Time (2 venues), Fenomen (3 venues), Sutormin Chess (2 venues), Ladya, Yozh (4 branches), Intellekt, Kaissa, Maestro, Etyud and Viktoria.
Where can I find a chess club near home in Vladivostok?›
By district: Leninsky - Ladya (Svetlanskaya 147 and Shefnera 2a), the Palace of Pioneers (Okeansky 43), Yozh (Yumasheva 12); Pervomaysky - Maestro (Kirova 52), Etyud (40 Let VLKSM 12), Sutormin Chess (Avrorovskaya 24); Pervorechensky - Chess Time (Ostryakova 13 and Kalinina 230), Viktoria (Kotelnikova 10), Chayka (Ilyichyova 26); Sovetsky - Intellekt (Russkaya 65/4), Fenomen (Yaltinskaya 18); Frunzensky - Fenomen (Krasnogo Znameni 25a).
Where should I send my child for chess in Vladivostok?›
For children there is Fenomen (they take them from 3), Chess Time and the other private schools (from 5) and the Palace of Pioneers (from 8, free).
Are there free chess sections in Vladivostok?›
Yes. The Palace of Children's Creativity (the Palace of Pioneers, Okeansky Ave. 43, dvpion.ru) and the Chayka centre (Ilyichyova St. 26) are municipal institutions with free chess sections for children.
How much does a chess coach cost in Vladivostok?›
Individual coaches start from about 600 roubles an hour with beginning teachers. At the schools: Fenomen from 2,500 roubles for 8 lessons, Chess Time 3,000-4,500 roubles a month, Sutormin Chess from 4,600 roubles for 8 lessons. Free at the Palace of Pioneers and the Chayka centre (both municipal).
Can an adult start playing chess from scratch in Vladivostok?›
Yes. Chess Time (chesstimevl.ru), Intellekt (Russkaya 65/4) and Sutormin Chess work with adults. Vibe Chess also operates in Vladivostok - city chess meetups in cafes and bars with no rating requirements.
Where can I see the calendar of chess tournaments in Vladivostok?›
City tournaments are on the Vladivostok City Chess Federation's site dvchess.ru. Regional ones are at primchess.ru. The national calendar is at ruchess.ru. Announcements of the amateur Vibe Chess meetups are in the Telegram bot.
Are there tournaments for beginners in Vladivostok?›
Yes. City competitions are published at dvchess.ru. For complete beginners there is Vibe Chess: amateur chess evenings with no rating requirements.
What is the Vladivostok City Chess Federation?›
The city federation (dvchess.ru), founded on 20 December 2006. Working address: Ilyichyova St. 26. Telephone: +7 (423) 290-32-10. Email: dvchess@mail.ru. The president since 2015 has been Andrey Stepanov. It coordinates city competitions and rated tournaments.
Which notable chess players are connected with Vladivostok?›
Alexander Zaitsev (1935-1971) was a native of Vladivostok and the first international grandmaster of Asia and the Far East (1967). Dmitry Batsanin is a Vladivostok player who became an international master at 15. Danila Sutormin is a current FIDE master with a rating of 2406 who coaches in Vladivostok.
What is the difference between a chess school and a chess club?›
A school is a system: a programme, a coach, regular lessons and a route to tournaments. A club is a place where you can play and meet other players. In Vladivostok Chess Time and Fenomen are first and foremost schools with a programme. Ladya, attached to the city federation, is a club with tournaments.
Do you need a rating to enter a tournament in Vladivostok?›
It depends on the tournament. Official competitions rated by the Russian federation require registration through the federation. Amateur meetups and Vibe Chess have no rating and no requirements.
Where can you play chess in Vladivostok without the sporting pressure?›
Vibe Chess runs city amateur chess evenings in Vladivostok, in cafes and bars. Short games, a variety of opponents and nobody judging. Announcements are in the Telegram bot.
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.
Create your own tournament for free
The Vibe Chess app opens from a link and needs no installation. Setting up a tournament in Vladivostok takes a minute: pick the system, set the date, the venue and the time control - the app handles the rest.
- Swiss systemfor a large field: opponents are matched by score, you choose the number of rounds
- Round robinfor a small circle: everyone plays everyone, the round count follows from the field
- Free meetupno rounds, no pairings: players sign up and pick opponents at the table
More about chess in Vladivostok and in other cities
Besides the schools and sections, Vladivostok 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.