Live Masterclass: Secrets of a Champion Maker

by Kasparov Chess Foundation
4/17/2026 – KCF Academy is welcoming a very special guest. On April 19th, at 17:00 CET, we open the doors to an evening with Arshak Petrosian, one of the greatest coaches the chess world has ever seen. It is an incredible chance to see live the coach, thinker, and architect of a golden era in chess, live at KCF Academy.
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Arshak Petrosian [photo by Przemysław Jahr] had the privilege of receiving instruction from the legendary World Champion Tigran Petrosian, an experience that propelled him to become one of the youngest chess masters in the Soviet Union – USSR Master of Sport in 1969, Armenian SSR Champion in 1974 and 1976, IM in 1978, and GM in 1984. He defeated world-class opponents, including Alexey Shirov and Alexander Morozevich, claimed bronze at the 1992 Chess Olympiad, and gold at the 1999 European Team Championship.

But it was coaching where Petrosian left his greatest mark. He went on to coach IGMs for their candidate matches, including Rafael Vaganian, Oleg Romanishin, and Vladimir Akopian. Arshak also became both the lifelong trainer and father-in-law of World Vice Champion Peter Leko.

Taking charge of the Armenian national team in the mid-1990s, he led them to three Chess Olympiad gold medals (2006, 2008, 2012) and the 2011 World Team Championship title. FIDE recognised his extraordinary contribution by awarding him the Mikhail Botvinnik Prize as the world's best coach twice, in 2008 and 2011.

What set him apart was his one-of-a-kind approach to coaching. PhD in philosophy, Petrosian taught his players not just how to win, but how to think, bringing depth and clarity to coaching that went far beyond just technique.

It is an incredible chance to see live the coach, thinker, and architect of a golden era in chess, Arshak Petrosian, at KCF Academy.

April 19th, 17:00 CET - Live at KCF Academy.
JOIN us any time at www.kcfacademy.org

Embark on a complete chess training journey with KCF Academy, guided by an elite team of international Grandmasters and various guest stars, along with Garry Kasparov: Fabiano Caruana, Veselin Topalov, Levon Aronian, Peter Svidler, and many other surprise star guests. The 2026 season is the most comprehensive yet, featuring weekly workshops, four progressive training levels, and a dedicated Expert Group designed for advanced players (2200+ FIDE or Level 4 graduates).

As a member of the KCF Academy, you’ll join a global chess community, train with some of the best minds in the game, and gain exclusive benefits for our flagship in-person event - the Kasparov Chess Foundation Friendship Festival in Slovenia (June 25 - July 5, 2026), where students, trainers, and chess enthusiasts from around the world come together.

Join special Saturday Academy lessons, designed for four skill levels and built on the legendary Botvinnik School training system. Unlike many modern programs, this approach preserves the timeless, systematic teaching of classical chess principles.

The Botvinnik School shaped nearly all the great champions of the 20th century, including Karpov, Kasparov, Yusupov, Beliavsky, Shirov, and many other grandmasters. Now, you can train in that same world-class tradition and meet chess stars online!

Visit www.kcfacademy.org for more details.

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The vision of the Kasparov Chess Foundation is primarily to use the many benefits of chess to help children worldwide. KCF does this through a variety of different programs, which you can find at KasparovChessFoundation.org
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