Guest Grandmaster Coaches

Silver Knights Chess Academy regularly hosts the strongest list of special guest coaches of any chess academy program in the United States.   

Our guest coaches have included world champions and top 10 players like Magnus Carlsen, Judit Polgar, Susan Polgar, Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer.  Our members have also enjoyed events with US champions like Yasser Seirawan, Sam Shankland, and Stuart Rachels.  

Current online academy members can join the special guest events by following instructions in the Broadcast Calendar.  If you are not a member yet, see below for some of the special guests we've hosted. 

2026 Guests

GM Judit Polgár
GM Judit Polgar
Judit has been a great friend to the academy.  Read more about the Queen of Chess.  

GM Susan Polgár
 

A photo of GM Susan Polgar sitting at a chess board. Credit: Susan Polgar

Find out more about GM Susan Polgar, author of "Rebel Queen". 

GM Vincent Keymer

Read more about our event with world top 10 player, GM Vincent Keymer.



2025 Guests

GM Anish Giri
Grandmaster Anish Giri was a special guest at Silver Knights
Dutch #1 and world top 10 player Anish Giri played banter blitz with students and had plenty of practical advice for young players. 



Other Guests

GM Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen
We've been lucky to have Magnus visit more than once.  Read more about our live lesson with the champ. 

GM Yasser Seirawan
Multi-time US champion Yasser Seirawan smiling.
Yasser Seirawan is a four-time US champion, chess commentator and author. 

GM Sam Shankland
GM Sam Shankland joined Silver Knights for a special guest event.
Sam Shankland was the 2010 US Junior Champion and the 2018 US Champion.  

IM Stuart Rachels
IM Stuart Rachels, author of "The Best I Saw in Chess"
IM Stuart Rachels, 1989 US co-Champion, joined us to share selections from his book "The Best I Saw In Chess".