Michael Zhou
Michael’s journey in the world of chess began at a young age when he clinched the prestigious title of Hubei State Junior Champion and earned a spot in the esteemed State Chess Junior Squad in China at just 12 years old. Over the course of 15 years, he honed his skills as a professional chess player, eventually attaining the esteemed title of “Chinese National Chess Master.”
Transitioning his expertise to coaching, Michael has been an important member of the Australian chess community since 2002. In January 2018, he established Norwest Chess Academy with the mission of introducing chess to schools in the Hills and Hornsby region. His dedication to providing top-tier chess instruction stems from a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of chess in shaping young minds.
Michael is a responsible, strict, and a very technical chess coach, but always brings some laughter into the classroom, “the right kind of jokes can enhance students’ interest and participation”.
In addition to his coaching duties, Michael assumes the role of mentor to our assistant coaching team, offering them guidance, training, and support to foster their growth and development in the realm of chess instruction.
Grace Chen
When Grace learned how to play chess in her twenties, she never imagined she would one day be a chess coach. After earning her master’s degree in Accounting and Commercial Law from the University of Sydney in 2003, Grace worked as a qualified CPA and senior financial accountant for 16 years before joining Norwest Chess Academy.
“It was a tough decision to switch careers, but chess is my passion and teaching children brings me joy. I am now truly happy and fulfilled in my current role.”
By combining her hobbies and passions, Grace has excelled as a chess coach for beginner classes over the past 4 years. Parents have praised her for being patient, thoughtful, gentle, and insightful in her teaching approach.
Flavia Cancio - Bello
Based in Madrid, Spain, Flavia serves as our online coach. Her impressive achievements include securing second place in the Pan American U-20 Championship (2012) and achieving 10th place in the World Youth Chess Championship (2011). She attained the FIDE Master title at the age of 15, reaching a peak FIDE rating of 2190.
“At the age of 8, my passion for chess ignited, driven by a competitive spirit. From surpassing friends to clinching championships, my chess journey has been a mix of excitement, hard work, frustration, and perseverance. I have been coaching chess since 2021 and am enthusiastic about sharing my expertise with the students at Norwest Chess. My focus lies in fostering logical thinking skills, empowering students to strategically analyze positions, and make optimal moves. Through personalized learning paths, I ensure that my students develop a strong understanding of practical and dynamic openings, basic endgames, and typical strategies.” – Flavia
Yifu
Yifu has been serving as the coach at Kellyville Public School since November 2022 while pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with Architecture at the University of Sydney. With over a decade of experience in chess, having started playing at the age of 8, Yifu brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to his coaching role.
“Over the years, I have actively participated in various chess tournaments, excelling in both adult and junior categories. A significant achievement was clinching the 1st prize in the problem-solving competition at the 2019 Australian Junior Chess Open. Through my journey in chess, I have not only developed my analytical, memory, and focus skills but also forged lasting friendships. At Norwest Chess, our team is dedicated to providing a welcoming and enjoyable environment where your child can have a fantastic time while learning.” – Yifu
Timothy Goulden
Timothy brings valuable experience to our team and now leads our basic chess class. Known for his clear explanation and patient teaching style, Timothy encourages students to engage confidently, asking questions in his direct to-the-point way.
Timothy’s chess journey started when he was 14. As a self-taught player, he first learned chess as a way to develop his thinking in ways that traditional schooling couldn’t provide. This journey helped him become a true thinker, allowing him to reflect on his actions and understand himself a bit better with each game. “Learning to analyze myself through chess helped my grades improve significantly. The goal isn’t just to become good at chess, but to develop oneself to become capable of excelling.” – Timothy
David Wu
David became a part of Norwest Chess as an assistant chess coach in March 2021. He is adept at tailoring his explanations to suit the students’ abilities, and his positive and encouraging approach has been embraced and valued by his audience. Introduced to chess by his father at the age of 6 and later coached by Michael, chess has held a significant place in David’s life.
“To me, chess is more than just a game. No two matches will ever be the same and each move opens up countless opportunities and variations. Being guided kindly and patiently as a student has revealed my own potential in a stimulating and enjoyable environment. While I can’t promise your child will become a grandmaster overnight, I can assure you that they will have a fantastic time and enhance their confidence, intellect, and concentration. I look forward to seeing you! “- David
Lachlan Hu
Lachlan has been serving as our assistant chess coach since April 2022. He is known for his supportive nature, patience, and clear communication skills. Lachlan’s love for chess began at the age of 6, and it holds the second spot on his list of favorite activities, right after soccer.
“My journey with chess has been amazing over the past few years. Chess has not only enhanced my football skills by teaching me about positions, roles, understanding opponents, setting goals, and creating space, but it has also improved my concentration, flexibility, logic, and problem-solving abilities. Playing chess brings me so much joy; I can’t imagine my life without it!” — Lachlan
Johnny Cong
Johnny joined Norwest Chess Academy as assistant coach in November 2022. Since then, Johnny has consistently demonstrated qualities of responsibility, humor and kindness, which have been warmly received and appreciated by students.
“Chess is extremely interesting to me, the concept of how there are more possibilities than atoms in the entire universe will never not shock me. Witnessing a grandmaster utilize a single move to unleash a series of calculated responses never fails to captivate me. While I am not a grandmaster myself yet, one doesn’t need that title to enjoy the game. Chess is a massive passion I have. It can bring me to a focused state almost immediately. It’s a pursuit that anyone can learn and discover interest in.” – Johnny
Kevin Chen
At just 5 years old, Kevin was introduced to chess by our head coach, Michael Zhou. Since then, he has made remarkable strides, winning numerous medals and trophies in various chess tournaments. By the age of 14, Kevin achieved an impressive FIDE Rapid Rating of 1765 and a Blitz Rating of 1627. He has become a benchmark player, the one everyone aspires to challenge and defeat. Now, Kevin is eager to pass on his exceptional skills and share his experience with our students.
“The biggest challenge I face in playing chess is learning to handle losses. You can’t expect to win every game – that’s just how life is. There will always be someone stronger out there, so don’t let a loss, or even two or three, discourage you. Each loss is a chance to learn and grow your skills.” – Kevin