GM Victor Mikhalevski

International Grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski, 51, from Israel

I started playing chess at the age of 5 and I am still an active as a player.
Israeli Champion 2014-16 and 2020-22, Israeli Blitz Champion 2014 and 2022, Israeli Rapid Champion 1997, Israeli Junior Champion 1991 and 1992, Bronze medalist of the 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad, tied third in the Torino Olympiad 2006, as a member of the Israeli Olympic Team, winner of many international and national tournaments, including Calvia Open 1997 with the performance of 2886.

IM from 1993, GM from 1996
I taught current GMs Arjun Erigaisi, Varuzhan Akobian, Sam Shankland, Jessi Kraai, Josh Friedel from US, GM Avital Boruchovsky, Israel and numerous IMs, FMs and national masters
My students won European under 18 championships, North American Championships, were medalist in the Junior world championships.

I teach chess online and offline
I wrote two books for the Quality Chess publishing house: "The Open Spanish" and "Beating Minor Openings" in the world-famous series of Grandmaster repertoire
I've also made a lot of annotations for Chess Base, Chess Publishing and many other online and offline magazines and websites.
I also worked as live commentator for World Chess Network, Kasparov Chess and US Chess Live
You can find my articles on chess.com as well
I've made a few DVDs for different websites

I like both sharp positions with tactics and initiative, different types of endgames etc. I also compose studies and some of them won prizes in the study competitions.

When I start working with a new student I'm trying to find his weak and strong sides, mostly analyzing their games. Then I start working on their weaknesses not forgetting about other aspects of the game.
I prepare for the lessons using Chessbase, chess engines and books.
I also keep in touch with my students all the time by e-mail and skype before and during tournaments.