Welcome to the CCL Chess School!

chess lessons, for players of all strengths and ages

THE CCL CHESS SCHOOL
Private Chess Lessons … with group activities
… for students of all ages and strengths

Alan Casden – CEO – (614) 561-2718
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/cclchess

  • Main Menu
    • Home
    • Who are we?
    • Pricing/Requirements
    • Pre-CCL
    • The Coaches
    • Philosophy
    • Business Policies
  • Students
    • Photo Galleries
    • CCL games annotated by the player
    • Rules of Behavior
    • Private
  • CCL Chess Clubs
    • Akron Pre-CCL program
    • Carrboro, NC
    • Columbus, OH
    • Dayton, OH
    • Marin, CA
  • Contact Us
  • Join CCL
  • Goran Memorial

Chris Shen breaks 2400, setting CCL history

July 20, 2019

updated 7/29
This past weekend, Chris played in the New York International at the historic Marshall Chess Club in Manhattan.   In this 9-round FIDE rated tournament, Chris played well, scoring 6 out 9 without a single round loss and his FIDE performance rating was above 2450, giving him a chance to clinch an IM norm.  However, he needed to play against one more player from a foreign country, according to FIDE policy.  But, his US chess rating crossed over 2400 and reached a new peak of 2410, the first CCL player to cross 2400 and currently the highest rated player in Ohio!   The previous high was held by Walker Griggs at 2398.  Chris is getting primed for perhaps the biggest tournament of his life, to compete in the US Junior Championship (Invitational).  Right now Chris is in Ecuador,  competing in the Pan American Youth U-18.
John Hughes who has been in semi-retirement while going to college came back participating in the same tournament.  John also had a strong result, bringing his rating up to 2314, five points short of his all-time high.  John is now working in information technology (computers) at Blackstone and living in The East Village of NYC.
It is great to see these strong results, but what brings the biggest smile to my face is hearing that CCL players met in a distant international tournament and were supportive of each other.  Chris was happy to meet the Hughes family in family in New York.
7/29 updated
Chris is on an incredible roll right now.  First he wins the US Junior Open, then he has an IM level performance at the New York International and now he just finished clear second in the U-18 section at the Pan American Youth Championship in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  US Chess will have a detailed report later about this tournament.

Filed Under: News

The Coaches

  • alancasden2
    National Master Alan Casden
    -- CEO --
  • International Master Atanas Kizov -- CCL Head Coach --
  • GM VLATKO BOGDANOVSKI
    Grand Master Vlatko Bogdanovski
  • Zoran
    International Master Zoran Arsovic
  • FM_Sasa_Jevtic
    FIDE Master Sasa Jevtic
  • NM Vladimir Kizov
    National Master Vladimir Kizov
    Head of Pre-CCL
  • Jelena
    Woman FIDE Master Jelena Arsovic

The Best in Chess Instruction

How can we say that?
- read our blogs, our results speak for themselves

Why are we so successful?
- we use the top chess coaches from around the world
- we develop a chess community
- we use a team approach with experts in both chess and psychology
- over 1900 free chess book library
- we always put the student first

Who are our customers?
- we started in Ohio but now reach out to all of North America, currently with students in 20 states and 8 countries
- we address the needs of students of all ages and strengths (a CCL and Pre-CCL program)

Let us help you to live up to your potential.

All credit card processing has been PCI certified!

Recent Posts

  • Jason Wang wins the North American Open January 3, 2023
  • 2022 National Grade Level Championships December 31, 2022
  • For real? December 6, 2022
  • 2022 Ohio Grade Level Championships November 15, 2022
  • Michael Lin becomes the 33rd CCL Graduate September 14, 2022
  • Sneha becomes a TD while she, Jack, and Joshua each win a quad. August 14, 2022
  • Rohan Padhye wins Joe Yun Memorial and becomes a Chess Master July 20, 2022
  • CCL at the National Elementary School Championship May 20, 2022
  • Jason Wang wins Ohio HS Championship while Rohan Padhye takes MS Championship May 9, 2022
  • Where are they now? February 4, 2022
  • CCL wins Ohio Grade Levels in grades 6, 8, 9, 10 November 8, 2021
  • Three New CCL Graduates September 11, 2021
  • CCL Chess Camp 9/11-12/2021 July 4, 2021
  • CCL takes top 4 spots in the Ohio High School Championship April 24, 2021
  • CCL Youth wins Ohio Championships April 3, 2021
  • The sleeping giant awakens April 3, 2021
  • Dae San Kim with the 2020 CCL Chess Championship August 22, 2020
  • 2020 CCL Chess Championship August 12, 2020
  • US vs Canada Online Youth Chess Match August 4, 2020
  • CCL USCF rated online chess tournaments June 9, 2020
  • 2020 Queen City Classic March 3, 2020
  • Some Holiday Results December 28, 2019
  • CCL wins most of the grades at the 2019 Ohio Grade Level Championships November 11, 2019
  • CCL tops the charts October 15, 2019
  • CCL Chess Camp 11/2-3/2019 September 16, 2019
  • Elton Cao is the State of Ohio Chess Champion September 3, 2019
  • Jason Wang is the Barber Co-champion August 9, 2019
  • 2019 Columbus Chess League August 8, 2019
  • Chris Shen breaks 2400, setting CCL history July 20, 2019
  • CCL old picture test July 16, 2019

© 2023 CCL | the very best in chess instruction