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
Grace is the co-founder of Norwest Chess Academy and is involved in both coaching and daily operation of the Academy.
Before entering the education sector, Grace built a successful career as a CPA-qualified senior financial accountant, with over 16 years of experience in corporate accounting and financial management, after completing her Master’s degree in Commerce at the University of Sydney. Her professional background has helped shape her structured and thoughtful approach to teaching and curriculum development.
Grace specialises in coaching beginners at primary schools. Through her patient and supportive teaching style, she has helped hundreds of students explore their first steps in chess and develop not only their chess skills but also confidence, concentration and resilience.
“Chess can teach children that success comes from patience, persistence and continuous learning. I enjoy helping children discover the joy of chess and seeing their confidence grow both on and off the chessboard.” – Grace
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
Byron Markwick
Since the age of four, Byron has been a passionate chess player. Over the years, his love for the game has deepened. Byron believes chess is a microcosm of life: the tactics and strategies you master over the board can serve as valuable tools far beyond the game itself.
While he continues to advance his own skills in strategy, tactics, theory, and a wide range of openings, Byron is now committed to passing on his knowledge to his students, helping to develop the next generation of talented young players through Norwest Chess Academy.
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
Lachlan Hu
Lachlan is studying Economics at the University of NSW. He has been a valued member of our coaching team since 2022. Over the years, he has developed into a confident and capable coach. His supportive and encouraging teaching style helps students build both their chess skills and confidence.
In addition to chess, Lachlan is also a keen soccer player. He believes both chess and soccer requires strategic thinking, decision-making under pressure, and the ability to adapt to changing situations. “Chess has been an important part of my life since childhood. It is not always an enjoyable journey; it comes with frustration, and moments of doubt. However, learning to overcome these challenges is where true growth happens.” – Lachlan
Veda Patibandla
Veda is studying Mechatronics Engineering at University of NSW and serves on the committee of the UNSW Chess Club. An active tournament player, Veda is passionate about continually improving his understanding of the game. By combining his competitive chess experience with his background in tutoring, Veda provides students with patient, supportive, and engaging coaching.
“I enjoy chess because there is always something new to learn. From discovering new tactics to improving strategic thinking, chess teaches valuable problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. I love helping my students grow in confidence and develop a lasting enjoyment of the game” – Veda
Yasith Polwaththe
Yasith is a first-year Bachelor of Advanced Computing student at the University of Sydney. An active chess player with a 2100 online Blitz rating, he joined Norwest Chess Academy in 2025 and enjoys helping students learn, improve and gain confidence in their games.
“ Chess is a game that keeps challenging and surprising me. I enjoy coaching at Norwest Chess Academy and sharing what I’ve learned with students and helping them make progress while having fun along the chess journey.” – Yasith
Ethan Long
Ethan is currently a student at Macquarie University. He was introduced to chess in his childhood and has been fascinated by the game ever since. Patient and friendly, Ethan has a genuine passion for helping young learners discover this classic game.
Ethan has an interesting perspective on chess. He describes it as a journey through a deep dark forest where both players must explore possibilities and hidden traps. Ethan believes chess teaches him resilience and a positive mindset, motivating him to continue growing both in the game and in life.
Owen Haack
Owen is our assistant coach at Kellyville Public School. He developed a strong interest in chess from a young age and was drawn to the game by its depth and strategic complexity.
As an assistant coach, Owen enjoys sharing his skills with students, helping them improve, and supporting them in discovering the enjoyment of chess. He is a positive and reliable member of our coaching team.
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