FM John Merill E. Jacutina

I am a 25-year-old FIDE Master with a highest Elo of 2331 from the Philippines, currently studying law. I teach chess throughout the country and am now looking to expand my reach to the international chess community. I am seeking students with strong potential who are passionate about improving their game.

I have won numerous local tournaments in the Philippines, including the annual National Age Group Championships. I’ve also competed successfully in international events such as the ASEAN+ Age Group Championships from 2013 to 2020. However, my most memorable achievement was winning the World Schools Chess Championship in 2015, held in Thailand, where I emerged as the champion.

I’ve been coaching talented kids in the city of Caloocan, where I serve as the head coach. I’ve been training and guiding them as a team to compete in local tournaments. I am also part of the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence as a Coach which is the number one Chess Academy in the Philippines.

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I am well-known for my positional style of play and exceptional skill in handling knights. I am also well-versed in endgames.

I usually begin by giving a problem or question related to the topic, then I proceed with the discussion. After that, I present another problem, which often helps the student recognize any lapses or misunderstandings from the earlier part of the session. Alternatively, I may ask the student to play a practice game to apply what they’ve learned during the lesson. I also give homework every session.