GMChessPrep - Marshall Elite Membership

Program Dates

• Duration: January 13 - June 2, 2026
• Special In-Person Events: January 19, 2026 & May 25, 2026
• Weekly Online Sessions: Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST
• In-Person Sessions: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Marshall Chess Club

What's Included in the Half-Year Membership

1. In-Person GM Training at Marshall Chess Club

• Led exclusively by Grandmaster Rashad Babaev
• Advanced opening preparation, middlegame strategies, and endgame mastery
• Training games + live GM analysis to apply lessons immediately

2. Structured Curriculum - 32 Hours of Training

• 6 hours in-person (two masterclass sessions)
• 26 hours online (17 sessions, 90 minutes each)
• 75-minute GM-led lessons + 15-minute Q&A with parental involvement
• Special topics:
  • How to Prepare for Nationals
  • Dealing with Nerves at the Board
  • Time Management in Chess
  • Tournament Etiquette & Growth Mindset

3. Exclusive GMChessPrep Platform Access

• Private login for members
• Video archive of recorded lessons
• Annotated PGNs, puzzle sets, and curated opening files
• Progress tracking and leaderboards

4. Parent Education

• Built into every session's Q&A
• Guidance for parents on:
  • Supporting without pressure
  • Pre-tournament preparation
  • Confidence and mindset development

5. Tournament Benefits

• Free entries to select Marshall tournaments (within limits)

Class Schedule (January - June 2026)

All online sessions are Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST

About Grandmaster Rashad Babaev

Grandmaster Rashad Babaev is a well-known international grandmaster, FIDE trainer, and highly respected chess coach. He lived in New York for many years and now resides in Virginia, but he continues to travel to New York for in-person training sessions — adding unique value to this program. GM Babaev is the founder of GMChessPrep Academy and has taught over 11,000 students worldwide during his decades-long career. Among his students are current grandmasters and top American talents, including Jason Liang, Brandon Jacobson, Andy Woodward, and Ryo Chen. Many of these young players became National Masters within a very short time under his guidance, before advancing to further stages of their careers. Today, GM Babaev continues to coach promising talents such as Ryo Chen, who is on track toward the grandmaster title. His reputation as a coach is built on giving players a solid foundation, sharpening their tournament skills, and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. With a proven record of developing champions and a lifetime devoted to chess education, GM Babaev brings unparalleled experience and prestige to the GMChessPrep-Marshall Elite Membership Program. You can learn more about him here.