CO-FOUNDER & FIDE INSTRUCTOR

WFM Maria Manelidou

CO-FOUNDER & FIDE INSTRUCTOR

WFM Maria Manelidou

Maria is a Woman FIDE Master (WFM) with a peak rating of 2112. As a junior, Maria was an 8-time Greek National Champion. She also had multiple international tournament successes, including winning the World School Team Championships in 2007, but in recent years has focused more on teaching than pursuing her tournament career.

Maria is a licensed FIDE Instructor and National Arbiter and a level 3 registered English Chess Federation coach. Her students’ competitive accomplishments include county champion titles in multiple age categories and top 3 finishes at the UK Chess Challenge Terafinal and London Junior Chess Championships Finals.

Maria founded the Chess Rising Stars London Academy in 2017 to share her passion for the game with chess enthusiasts in London and further afield. She teaches students of all ages and abilities, and her students are delighted with the progress they have made.