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The CCL Chess School

Chess, Community and Learning

 

Chess lessons and more, for players of all strengths and ages.

Elite Chess Camp November 2025 Enrollment

The Main Themes of Elite Chess Camp

At this Elite Chess Camp, students don’t just learn tactics, they discover the art of positional chess, the key to thinking and playing like a master. IM Atanas will introduce a series of positional chess practice required toward elite chess players. The lectures focus on developing everyone a deep understanding of strategic factors, such as space control, weak squares,  piece coordination, and long-term planning, rather than relying only on tactical calculation. By mastering positional play, young players gain the strategic vision that separates good players from great ones, building the foundation for confident, creative, and world-class chess performance.

11/8 Saturday’s Topics (from 9 am to 5 pm)

– Space Advantage
– Methods Principles of Defence
– Realization of Positional Advantage

11/9 Sunday’s Topics (from 9 am to 5 pm)

– Prophylaxis
– Arts of Planning using Bishops on Diagonal
– Simplifications and Transposing to Endgame

Why Is This Important to A Chess Player Aiming High?

This practice is essential for elite chess players because top-level games often feature balanced positions where tactics are scarce. Success depends on subtle maneuvering, accurate evaluation, and converting small positional advantages into a win. In essence, positional mastery allows elite players to maintain control, create enduring advantages, and outplay opponents in complex, quiet positions where pure calculation alone is insufficient.

Where is the Camp Location?

CCL North Center (Alum Creek)

Who Should Join the Elite Chess Camp?

The 2-day training is “highly recommended” (I actually meant “required”) to those with rating between 1200 and 2000. The camp also reserve limited spots welcoming anyone who is below 1200 rating but wants to explore the real beauty of chess arts. To those adventures (<1200 rating) we offer a special rebate (discount) if admitted. This camp is NOT recommended to beginners below 800 rating.

What Do You Need to Bring to the Camp?

Students come to the camp with a strong grasp of fundamental tactics, and, most importantly, the ambition to improve themselves and challenge stronger opponents.

What Else Do We Provide You At the Camp?

All chess equipment will be provided.

Lunch, afternoon snacks, and drinks will be provided.

Trophies will be available to the in-camp rapid tournament winners.

What is the Camp Cost?

Early Bird Entry $209 for the 2-Day camp if paid by November 2nd with other fee options for the partial participation. After that, $20 will be added to each day of the participation. 10% of the entry fee will be donated to CCL’s Student Activity Group (SAG) Fund to support our community. We accept major credit cards, PayPal, Zelle, and Venmo.

40% Rebate are available to the second or third person from the same family, participants coming from over a 45-minute drive to Columbus, players below 1200 rating, and CCL Graduates (>2000 rating). Please contact 614chessTD@gmail.com for rebate details.

If you cannot make it to the camp, you will be 100% refunded, no questions asked.

CCL Camp Enrollment

Camp Participation Schedule

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Introduction to Our Community Chess Instructional Program

Welcome to CCL, a community-driven chess instructional initiative designed to bring timeless chess to learners of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner taking your first steps on the board or an experienced player seeking to sharpen your strategies, our program offers something for everyone.

Chess is more than just a game—it fosters critical thinking, patience, and problem-solving skills. Our program is built around the belief that chess can unite people, challenge minds, and create opportunities for personal growth and community connection. To supplement the chess side of individual enrichment, we recently opened a prodigious activities wing to CCL, managed by renowned mathematician and prodigy Dr. Harvey Friedman.

Why Join Us?

Our program is driven by a passionate community of chess lovers dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive, and educational environment. For details on how the community fosters the program, please go to the menu option The Community. By participating, you’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Learn at your own pace with flexible instruction formats.
  • Join a vibrant chess community and make new friends who share your interests.
  • Enhance your cognitive skills, such as strategic thinking and decision-making.
  • Compete in local tournaments and represent our community.
  • Work with renowned mathematician and prodigy Dr. Harvey Friedman in other prodigious activities.

Let’s make chess an engaging and enriching part of our community. Join us today and start your chess journey! Together, we can grow our community and inspire a love for this incredible game.

The Coaches

  • alancasden2
    National Master Alan Casden
  • International Master Atanas Kizov -- CCL Head Coach --
  • Walker
    Life Master Walker Griggs
  • GM VLATKO BOGDANOVSKI
    Grand Master Vlatko Bogdanovski
  • Zoran
    International Master Zoran Arsovic
  • NM Vladimir Kizov
    National Master Vladimir Kizov
    Head of Pre-CCL
  • Jacob Eismann
    Jacob Eismann

The Rest of the Team

  • Jeff
    Jeff Shen
    Business Manager
  • Adai
    Adai Adaikappan
    Community Laison
  • Courtenay
    Courtenay James
    Organizer
  • Shiv
    Shivkumar Kurulekar
    IT System Admin
  • Jagdish Patel
    Jagdish Patel
    Newsletter Editor
  • Harvey
    Dr. Harvey Friedman - Head of Prodigious Activites

Recent Posts

  • Mehmet Wins Blitz Gold October 8, 2025
  • Vikrant’s Art September 15, 2025
  • Student Spotlight August 25, 2025
  • CCL Students on the US Chess July Top 100 List by Age and Gender August 5, 2025
  • Arjun Sai’s Hot Streak on the Board! July 30, 2025
  • Student Spotlight: Dae San Kim July 13, 2025
  • CCL Chess Stars Score Big at the Cleveland Open! June 16, 2025
  • CCL Chess Students Shine on the Podium at SuperNationals VIII in Orlando, FL May 12, 2025
  • NEWSLETTER OF THE MOTCF April 15, 2025
  • CCL March Chess Camps February 25, 2025
  • CCL Graduates February 2, 2025
  • Making our 2025 MOTCF Teams January 23, 2025
  • Welcome Jacob ! January 21, 2025
  • Jeff Shen is taking over the lead role at CCL December 26, 2024
  • Simul Stuff December 23, 2024
  • CCL Alumni/Student Chess GetTogether December 13, 2024
  • 2024 State Grade Levels November 27, 2024
  • Life Master Walker Griggs is giving lessons! October 29, 2024
  • Chess Math is here! October 27, 2024
  • An Evening with Atanas October 23, 2024
  • March CCL Chess Camps October 17, 2024
  • Maxwell again! Good Gosh September 16, 2024
  • Louis Zhang becomes the 36th CCL Graduate July 30, 2024
  • Major Changes in CCL June 6, 2024
  • Catch Up Time May 17, 2024
  • Cole Braun wins Ohio Middle School Championship February 27, 2024
  • CCL Chess Camp 4/20-21/2024 February 17, 2024
  • Rohan Padhye win Cardinal Open while CCL finishes very strong January 19, 2024
  • Mehmet is a National Champion December 19, 2023
  • CCL wins most of the grades at the Ohio Grade Levels November 25, 2023

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