Instructor Credentials

​

NM Bryan Tillis

​

• Highest USCF Rating, 2274

• USCF National Master, (2012)

• USCF Original Life Master, (2016)

​

Education & Certifications:

​

• 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 – Present)

• Florida Chess Association Board Member (Vice President), (2017 – Present)

• USCF Delegate Representing Florida (2019 - Present)

• FIDE Trainer, (2017)

• USCF Senior TD (2019)

• FIDE Online Arena Grand Master (2020)

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

• USCF Certified Level V Coach (Pending)

​

Tournament Accomplishments:

​

• US Amateur South Champion, (2011)

• Mississippi State Chess Champion, (2011)

• Alabama State Chess Champion, (2012)

• Florida State Blitz Chess Champion, (2018)

​

Author:

​

• 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)

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

​

Chess Projects & Partnerships:

​

• Instructor, Counselor, 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 & Bocachess the 2019 Arnold Denker Florida State Chess Championship

​

Team Coaching Accomplishments:

​​

• ( 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)

​

Listing all of our team wins could be troublesome:

​

 

​
 

​