About Me
My name is Gabriel Petesch, and I'm a competitive chess player and full-time chess teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I earned the Fide Master (FM) title in 2014, and I am currently ranked 7th in the state of Pennsylvania among active chess players. ♞
I’ve had some success at large chess tournaments, notably the 2017 Pittsburgh Open, and the 2019 King's Island Open tournaments- during both tournaments I defeated Grandmasters to tie for 1st place. ♞
Currently, I am focused on teaching chess in the Pittsburgh area by the following methods:
Tournaments. On May 28, 2022, I collaborated with Jules Coulson, to run the Greater Pittsburgh Scholastic Chess Championship. Our tournament had a great turnout of 45 competitors, including 15 first-time tournament players!
Summer Camps. Camps provide kids with an ideal mix of fun and instruction, and are a great way to boost chess skills in just one week. My next camp will run August 15-19 in the North Hills.
Classes. I run classes in and around Pittsburgh. Currently I only have one class running in Mt. Lebanon, but more will be coming soon!
Simultaneous Exhibitions During Simultaneous exhibitions (simuls), I take on many challengers all at once by walking around the room and making a move on one board at a time. Simuls are fun, free, and instructive, and they offer a unique chance to play a Chess Master.
Gabriel Petesch plays a match against a young challenger in 2017 at a Pittsburgh Chess Club fundraiser in 2017.
After School Clubs. After school chess classes are a fun way for kids to learn and get more involved in chess. I currently have a few slots open for after-school classes. If you are a parent or school administrator, get in touch to learn more about setting up school classes.
Private Lessons. I have been teaching private students for 10 years. I offer both in-person and skype sessions. Click here to send me a message regarding personal instruction.