Michael TakahashiIowa City, IAStriving to give you tools that will last a lifetime!
Hello Everyone!
My name is Michael Takahashi. I am a USCF NM (National Master) with a USCF rating of 2205 and a FIDE rating of 2051. I originally started coaching because I wanted to give back to my community; that's given so much to me. Throughout my playing career, I have had the privilege of working with GM Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko, GM Gregory Kaidanov, and NM James Neal, to name a few. I hope to bring some of what they taught me to help you improve!
In 2022, I became a chess coach with the Vancouver, B.C. Canada Organization "Focus Chess," and a year later, I joined the organization "Dazzling Minds Academy" as their primary online chess coach.
As for some of my playing experiences, I've had many notable successes. My recent accomplishments include earning the USCF NM (National Master) title in 2022 and finishing in the top 10 of the 2022 US Junior Open. I also have had substantial success at the state level, qualifying for the Iowa Closed Championships for four straight years from 2017-2020, which included a runner-up finish in the 2020 campaign. In January of that year, I qualified for the National Denker Tournament of High School State Champions for the first time after winning the Iowa Denker Qualifying Championships.
