About Our Chess Classes

Our chess program is run by experienced Chess Masters Lou Mercuri and Kenneth Thomas. We offer Fall and Spring sessions (15-weeks each) during the school year, as well as a 6-week Summer Session.

Fall Chess 2019!

Fall Chess session is  open for registration. Classes start September 25. This is a 15-class session, meeting on the following Wednesdays:
September 25;
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30;
November 6, 13, 20;
December 4, 11, 18;
January 8, 15, 22

Chess class runs 6:15-7:45 PM. The cost of each 15-class session is $660. 

Eligibility 

We accept children of all ages and abilities, with the minimum requirement that the child needs to know the basic chess moves.

Lou Mercuri

Mr. Lou Mercuri is actively teaching chess in the Boston area and in MetroWest. His students continue to improve and play at the highest levels for their age groups. Currently, six of his students are rated in the top 100 for their age group in the US and compete in National Scholastic Championships. As a player, he is a US Life Master and his rating has peaked at 2404 (Senior Master). He was awarded the International Title of FIDE Trainer at the Turin, Italy Olympiad in May 2006. This selective title is awarded to experienced chess coaches and trainers at the 2350 rating level. He is among the first chess trainers in the United States to be awarded this title by FIDE, the International Chess Organization.

• Lou’s students have won Massachusetts State Scholastic Championship and one National Elementary Championship
• Six students have exceeded a 2000 rating—starting out at less than 1400
• Lou defeated World Champion Karpov in exhibition play in 1990
• He is a writer and publisher of theoretical opening articles
• He maintains an unsurpassed chess library (700+ books)
• Lou uses his own proven interactive techniques
• He has served as a consultant for various computer programs, books, learning methods, and tournaments

Kenneth Thomas

Kenneth is an experienced Master (highest FIDE rating 2225, current 2023) with 27 years of university teaching.  His chess coaching experience ranges from elementary schools to adults in Memphis, Chicago, and Boston. He coached the Hutchison School (Memphis, TN) to second place in the state elementary championships, and its first board was the winner of the overall individual event. He now teaches private clients in Boston and the Metrowest. He received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at Princeton University and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago.