2026 Instructors

GM Boris Avrukh (Illinois)

• Former Israeli National Champion
• Competed in 2002 FIDE World Championship and 6 Olympiads (earning gold, silver, bronze medals)
• Trained GMs Caruana, So, Kramnik, Gelfand, Radjabov
• Professional chess coach and author
• Peak ratings 2711 USCF, 2668 FIDE
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2024 (2nd year)

GM Kayden Troff (North Carolina)

• World Youth U14 Champion, GM at age 16
• #2 rated player from North Carolina
• Member of several All-America Chess Teams
• Professional chess coach and streamer
• Competed in several U.S. Junior and U.S. Championships
• Peak ratings 2556 FIDE, 2649 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2025 (2nd year)

GM Alex Lenderman (New York)

• World Youth U16, World Open, US Open Champion
• Won the last 5 Castle Chess Grand Prix tournaments
• Defeated GMs Ivanchuk, Shirov, Eljanov, Vallejo, Kamsky
• Represented USA at the World Team Champ. (Gold medal)
• Competed in FIDE World Cup
• Peak ratings 2654 FIDE (World #97), 2743 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2018 (7th year)

GM Elshan Moradiabadi (North Carolina)

• Won Iranian Championship, US Open, US Masters
• #3 rated player from North Carolina
• Competed in 2 Chess World Cups & 2 U.S. Championships
• Won Presidents’ Cup and Pan-Am Collegiate Championship with Texas Tech University
• Peak ratings 2675 USCF, 2603 FIDE
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2025 (2nd year)

GM Magesh Panchanathan (North Carolina)

• World Open, New Jersey Open, and Asian Junior Champion
• #4 rated player in North Carolina
• Has defeated GMs Mamedyarov, Xiong, Howell, Mamedov
• Founder of Kings and Queens Chess Academy and Pro Chess Training
• Peak ratings 2586 FIDE, 2652 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2012 (13th year)

GM Vladimir Georgiev (Florida)

• Bulgarian and Macedonian National Champion
• Finished 2nd place in European Junior Championship
• Trainer of Women’s World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova, World Junior Champions Jeffery Xiong & Aryan Tari
• FIDE Senior Trainer, Coach of US Chess World Youth teams
• Peak ratings 2596 FIDE, 2628 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2025 (2nd year)

IM Joshua Posthuma (Michigan)

• Professional chess coach
• #3 rated player from Michigan
• 4-time Michigan State Champion
• International Master at age 22
• 2024 World Open – 1st U2450 FIDE
• Peak ratings 2457 FIDE, 2535 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2025 (2nd year)

IM John Ludwig (Ohio)

• Former Castle Chess Camper!
• Top rated player from Ohio
• International Master at age 20
• Competed in U.S. Cadet Championship and Pro Chess League
• 10th and 12th Grade National Champion
• Peak ratings 2413 FIDE, 2499 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2025 (2nd year)

WGM Sabina Foisor (Kentucky)

• 2017 US Women’s Champion
• 4-time European Youth medalist
• Competed in 3 Women’s World Cup / Championships
• Represented USA in 5 Olympiads and 4 World Teams
• #5 rated player from Kentucky
• Peak ratings 2386 FIDE, 2455 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2024 (3nd year)

GM John Fedorowicz (New York) Floating Instructor

• Won 2 US Junior Championships, 5 World Opens, US Open, New York Open, Wijk aan Zee “B”
• US Chess Hall of Fame inductee, Olympiad representative
• Coach of GM Gata Kamsky, US Olympiad Team, US Chess World Youth teams
• Defeated World Champions Vishy Anand & Vasily Smyslov
• Peak ratings 2574 FIDE (World #43), 2672 USCF
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2004 (21st year)

FM Robby Adamson (Arizona) Floating Instructor

• Denker Tournament of High School Champions winner
• Coach of Catalina Foothills High School (10 national titles)
• Coach of World Junior Champion GM Tal Shaked
• FIDE Trainer and member of US Chess Scholastic Council
• #7 rated player from Arizona
• Peak ratings 2378 FIDE, 2447 USCF, 3 IM norms
• Castle Chess Instructor since 2019 (6th year)