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GM Sasa Martinovic

Chess engines can show you the best moves, but I can teach you how to find such moves by yourself

LocationZadar Croatia
LanguagesEnglish (US), Deutsch, Hrvatski
RatingFIDE: 25652898295824412301
Hourly rate1h=60€; 10h=500€; Training games= 40 €/h; I am also available for group lessons. If you are interested, contact me
AvailabilityAccepting students
Active

About me

I am Sasa Martinovic, a 32-year-old grandmaster from Croatia (peak FIDE rating 2604). I am also a FIDE trainer and have a master's degree in pedagogy. If you are interested in lessons or coaching feel free to contact me. I have lived in Germany for 7 years, so besides English, I can give lessons in fluent German too.
Also, I am looking for teams in Europe, so if you have some offer, I would be happy to hear about it.
My e-mail address is: sasa.martinovic91@gmail.com

Playing experience

I have been playing tournaments since the age of 6 and became a grandmaster at the age of 19.
Top achievements:
-winning the national championship of different age categories 9 times
-winning many international open tournaments, including one of the biggest ones in Croatia; first place in the Zagreb open three times (2014, 2017, 2018) and winning the Split open in 2016 and 2017.
- bronze medal in the U-18 European team Championship with Croatia (2007)
- winning the Mitropa cup 3 times (2008, 2009, 2013)
- representing Croatia in the European Championship and the Olympiad; in 2017 we had a historic success, sharing place 3-4 in the European team Championship; I scored 4 out of 6 and performed 2700; in 2019 we finished 5th in the European team Championship
- In 2020 I won the Croatian Individual Championship
- In 2021, I qualified for the World Cup, where I was knocked out in the second round by Magnus Carlsen
- In 2019 and 2022 as the first board, I won the Croatian cup with my team

Teaching experience

I started to work as a chess coach in my hometown at the age of 20. For the purpose of coaching, I knew it would be very useful to study pedagogy, so I started my studies at the University of Zagreb in 2012. I graduated with a master's degree in 2018. The knowledge of pedagogy helps me a lot in my work with students. In 2015 I became a licensed FIDE trainer. I was the official trainer of the Croatian chess federation in one U-20 World Championship (2012) and in two youth European Championships (2013 and 2015). Nowadays I'm active in coaching, but as my biggest strength are the openings, I also work as second for some very strong grandmasters.

Other experiences

-From 2018 to 2021, I was editor-in-chief of the famous Croatian chess magazine "Šahovski Glasnik".
-Chessable author of the Course "Lifetime Repertoires: Martinovićs Französisch"

Teaching methodology

I use an individual approach to every student. I will work with you on all parts of the game, but the main focus will be on your weaknesses. I will detect them after carefully analyzing your games.