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Free trial classes are available for new students only who have not previously enrolled in GMChessPrep programs.
Sunday In-Person Group Classes – Fall 2026
Rising Challengers Group
USCF Rating: 800–1650
Recommended Age: 6–14 years
Recommended Age: 6–14 years
- Dates: September 6 – December 20, 2026 (16 Classes)
- Schedule: Sundays | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
- Location: 1934 Old Gallows Rd, 3rd Floor Vienna, VA 22182
- Tuition: $912/ Fall Session
- Trial Class: $45
- Early Registration Discount: 10% off until August 24
- Sibling Discount: Additional 10% off for second child
Train with a Grandmaster
This in-person fall program is designed for motivated young tournament players who want to continue building their chess understanding, strengthen practical tournament skills, and stay sharp throughout the summer.
Classes are designed by Grandmaster Rashad Babaev, founder of GMChessPrep, providing students with structured, high-level instruction in a focused and supportive environment.
Fall Program Focus
Throughout the fall session, students will work on:
- Developing stronger calculation through complex tactical positions
- Learning how to identify and exploit positional weaknesses
- Improving piece coordination and creating active plans
- Understanding pawn breaks and important structural changes
- Developing stronger attacking and defensive decision-making
- Mastering transitions from middlegame into favorable endgames
- Improving practical rook and minor-piece endgame technique
- Learning when to exchange pieces, maintain tension, or simplify
- Strengthening tournament focus, time management, and consistency
- Studying instructive master games and critical turning points
- Practicing decision-making through challenging tournament positions
- Analyzing students’ tournament games and identifying recurring mistakes
- Building stronger tournament preparation and competitive habits
GMChessPrep Online Platform Access
Every enrolled student receives a free GMChessPrep platform account, which includes:
- Bonus training lessons
- Tactical puzzles and training exercises
- Online play opportunities
- Access to class materials and recordings
Class Access Anytime
All sessions are uploaded to each student’s GMChessPrep account so they can review lessons and concepts anytime.
Loyalty & Referral Program – One-Time Fall Offer
$100 Referral Bonus
Refer a new student and receive $100 cash after their full enrollment and payment are completed.
Bring a friend this fall and get rewarded — $100 for every new student who joins!
Extras for Parents
- Free on-site parking
- Comfortable waiting room during class
Ready to Join?
Spots are limited.
Register early to reserve your seat and take advantage of the early registration discount.
Sunday In-Person Group Classes – Fall 2026
Developing Players Group
USCF Rating: Unrated–800
Recommended Age: 6–14 years
Recommended Age: 6–14 years
- Dates: October 25 – December 20, 2026 (9 Classes)
- Schedule: Sundays | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EST
- Location: 1934 Old Gallows Rd, 3rd Floor, Vienna, VA 22182
- Tuition: $495 / Fall Session
- Trial Class: $45
- Early Registration Discount: 10% off until October 15
- Sibling Discount: Additional 10% off for second child
Train with a Grandmaster
This in-person fall program is designed for developing chess players who already know the basic rules of chess and are ready to build stronger fundamentals, improve their game understanding, and begin developing the skills needed for tournament chess.
No tournament rating is required. Students may be unrated or have a USCF rating up to approximately 800. Placement may also be based on playing strength and coach assessment.
The program follows the GMChessPrep training system developed and supervised by Grandmaster Rashad Babaev, founder of GMChessPrep. Students train through a structured curriculum designed to help them progress step by step toward stronger competitive play and eventually advance into the Rising Challengers Group.
Classes may be taught by Grandmaster Rashad Babaev or an approved GMChessPrep coach following the same GMChessPrep curriculum and training standards.
Fall Program Focus
Throughout the fall session, students will work on:
- Building strong opening habits and understanding basic opening principles
- Developing pieces correctly and improving early-game decision-making
- Recognizing common tactical patterns and combinations
- Improving calculation and learning to think before making a move
- Understanding checks, captures, threats, and candidate moves
- Learning important checkmating patterns
- Improving king safety and recognizing attacking opportunities
- Understanding the value and activity of each piece
- Developing better piece coordination and basic positional awareness
- Learning how to create simple plans during the middlegame
- Understanding basic pawn structures and pawn weaknesses
- Learning essential king-and-pawn, rook, and minor-piece endgames
- Improving tournament habits, focus, and time management
- Learning how to review games and recognize recurring mistakes
- Building confidence and preparing students for rated tournament play
GMChessPrep Online Platform Access
Every enrolled student receives a free GMChessPrep platform account, which includes:
- Bonus training lessons
- Weekly quizzes and homework assignments
- Tactical puzzles and training exercises
- Online play opportunities
- Access to class materials and recordings
- Additional practice between weekly in-person classes
The platform allows students to continue training at home and reinforce the concepts introduced during class.
Class Access Anytime
All sessions are uploaded to each student’s GMChessPrep account so they can review lessons and concepts anytime.
Students who miss a class can also use their account to stay connected with the material and continue their training between sessions.
Pathway to the Next Level
The Developing Players Group is the first step in the GMChessPrep in-person training pathway.
As students improve and demonstrate stronger tournament skills, they may be recommended to advance into the:
Rising Challengers Group – USCF 800–1650
This structure allows students to progress into increasingly challenging training as their chess level develops.
Loyalty & Referral Program – One-Time Fall Offer
$100 Referral Bonus
Refer a new student and receive $100 cash after their full enrollment and payment are completed.
Bring a friend this fall and get rewarded — $100 for every new student who joins!
Extras for Parents
- Free on-site parking
- Comfortable waiting room during class
Ready to Join?
Spots are limited to 12 student. Register early to reserve your seat and take advantage of the early registration discount.
