Instructor Credentials

NM Bryan Tillis

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• Highest USCF Rating, 2274

• USCF National Master (2012)

• USCF Original Life Master (2016)

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Education & Certifications:

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• Bachelors Degrees in Sociology & Psychology (2010)

• Masters in Sociology course work completed (2011)

• Certified Educator (2016-2021) Florida Department of Education (K-6, 6-9 Social Science)

• Full-Time Chess Teacher at Franklin Academy (2014 – 2021)

• Florida Chess Association Board Member (2017 – Present)

• USCF Delegate Representing Florida (2019 - Present)

• FIDE Trainer (2017)

• USCF Senior TD (2019)

• FIDE Online Arena Grand Master (2020)

• FIDE National Arbiter (Four of Five Norms Completed to become FIDE Arbiter)

• USCF Certified Level V Coach (Pending)

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Tournament Accomplishments:

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• US Amateur South Champion (2011)

• Mississippi State Chess Champion (2011)

• Alabama State Chess Champion (2012)

• Florida State Blitz Chess Champion (2018)

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Author:

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• Editor of The Antics Alabama Chess Federation State Magazine (2013 – 2015)

• Authored Curriculum Text: Become A Chess Champion (2017)

• Authored Become A Chess Champion Definitive Edition (2018)

• Authored Master The French with GM Alexander Lenderman (2018)

• Authored Alekhine Defense: The Dark Knight Rises, with GM Roman Dzindzichashvili (2019)

• Authored Chess Coloring & Activity Book with illustrations by Ashley Turner (2019)

• Authored Openings Oddities (2019)

• Authored Aggressive Queens Gambit Declined (2020)

• Authored Chess Olympiad (2022)

• Chess Life Online & Magazine Contributing Author (Click for Articles)

• Chessable: Content Creator (2018 - Present)

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Chess Projects & Partnerships:

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• Instructor, Counselor, and Board Member Castle Chess Camp at Emory University – (2007 – Present)

• Partnership in running camps in conjunction with Chess Educators in FIDE World Junior Chess Championship for the Disabled (2016)

• Founder of Chess.com Pro Chess League Team: Miami Champions (2016 - 2020)

• Created Chess events & partnership with NHL Florida Panthers (2016 – 2020)

• Organized in partnership with Florida Chess Association the 2019 Arnold Denker Florida State Chess Championship & 2022 Harvey Lerman Florida State Chess Championship

• Partnership with the Norton Museum of Art for chess events (2020 - Present).

• US Chess Scholastic Chess Committee Member (2022 - Present)

• US Chess States & Affiliates Committee Member (2021 - Present)

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Team Coaching Accomplishments:

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• ( 5th ) Grade Level National Chess Championship 10th Place (2016)

• (K - 5 or K - 8) Palm Beach County District Chess Champions (2017 - 2019)

• (K - 5 or K - 8) South Florida Regional Chess Champions (2017 - 2019) 

• (K - 5) Florida State Scholastic Chess Champions (2017)

• ( 6th ) Grade Level National Chess Championship 7th Place (2017)

• ( 7th ) Grade Level National Chess Championship 3rd Place (2018)

• (K - 8) 7th Place Junior High National Chess Championship (2019)

• ( 8th ) Grade Level National Chess Championship 4th Place (2019)

• (K-8) Florida State Scholastic Chess Champions (2020)

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Listing all of our team wins could be troublesome:

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