Freelance / Partners.
As our Students-per-Teacher ratio is kept low, both at our centers and at schools, we occasionally and selectively work together with good local chess instructors to cater for a peak hour here and there. We also offer our more mature and higher-level students opportunities to help with training as assistant coach and as such provide them an opportunity to gain valuable working experience in an internship setting.
IA Alberto Muniz Pardino
2016 - present
Former Director Operations
Senior Trainer
Coach Alberto holds a degree in Business Administration and is a FIDE Trainer and International Arbiter.
A tournament player since youth, he became Hong Kong Champion in 2014 and represented the HK National Team at the Chess Olympiad.
He has coached across Europe and Asia, and enjoys sports and technology.
AIM Francois Wolfaardt Ph.D
2023 - present
Trainer
I started chess at age 6, inspired by my grandfather, a local champion. By grade 6, I began beating him, and was soon selected to represent Western Province at the SA Schools Championship.
Chess became part of my identity—even leading me to write a fictional letter to Spassky for a school assignment, which my teacher praised.
I later earned a PhD in Second Language English Acquisition in Hong Kong and became an Arena International Master in 2015. I've coached for over a decade, helping students reach their goals.
Aidan Fu
2024 - present
Caissa Assistant Trainer
Hello, my name is Aidan. I have known how to play chess since I was 5, and I started to play more when I turned 13.
I have been a Caissa student for over 2 years.
I play mostly casually, participating in some open events and I enjoy fostering a love for chess in youth. I like the Queen's gambit and I enjoy a balanced style of play.
Outside of chess, I like sports like basketball and tennis.
Miguel Garceran Nieuwenburg
2024 - present
Founding Student and Multiple National Youth Champion
Miguel Garceran Nieuwenburg was one of Caissa’s first students, trained in the Step Method.
A top youth player in Hong Kong, he won several Hong Kong Champion titles in various formats, including blitz and rapid. He represented Hong Kong at the FIDE Youth World Championships and won the Dutch Open U10.
Now studying Business Administration at the University of Bath, Miguel returns during breaks to teach the next generation of Caissa students, understanding their needs from his own experience.
Leonie Ah Chong
2024 - present
Caissa Assistant Arbiter
I’m Leonie, a passionate chess player and Caissa student since middle school.
Over the years, I’ve competed in various tournaments, including international competitions with Team Caissa. My highlight was being runner-up for best girl at the 2023 CTCA tournament in Tainan.
Beyond playing, I stay involved as an arbiter at Caissa tournaments, sharing my passion with younger players.
In the future, I aim to earn my National Arbiter certification and further my chess career.
Aidan, Kiu Chun Wu
2023 - present
Caissa Assistant Trainer
Coach Aidan was introduced to chess at age 6 by his father and grew up training in Caissa’s EGTP program.
A senior at Hong Kong International School, he leads the chess club and tutors STEM subjects. His achievements include 6th at the U16 HK Nationals, board champion at the 2024 HK Inter-school Championships, and 2nd at the 2023 Malvern Open.
Known for his aggressive style and love of the Kalashnikov Sicilian, Aidan also enjoys learning languages and long-distance running.
Discover our team.
Behind every great player is a great coach. Get to know the Caissa team — expert chess trainers with a passion for teaching.
David Garceran Nieuwenburg
2012 - present
Founder and Managing Director
As a youth in the Netherlands, David earned a National Club Team title and received training from IM Cor van Wijgerden, co-creator of the Step Method.
David has played competitively in several countries and was briefly President of the Hong Kong Chess Federation in 2015 and returned as Director in 2023 and Vice President in 2024.
David is a certified FIDE National Instructor and a FIDE Arbiter and is passionate about promoting chess through teaching and organizing events locally and abroad.
David is a Fulbright Scholar and holds M.A and M.Sc Master's degrees from Leiden University and Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Management and went to the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Strategic Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC for his Ph.D.
Boxing, going to the gym and hiking with his dog, Bobby, are David's favorite free time activities.
IM Matthew Tan
2018 - present
Branch Manager Discovery Bay Centre
Head of Training
Coach Matthew is an International Master with a degree in mathematics. As Head of Training, Matthew oversees our classes, curriculum and guidance of the students at the different tournaments.
A former youth national champion, he has represented the Netherlands at different international competitions with his best result a top 10 place at the European Championship U14. He achieved the FIDE Master title in 2008 and the International Master title in 2012.
A certified FIDE Trainer since 2018, with over two decades of teaching experience using the Step Method, Matthew blends his maths teaching background with his chess expertise.
Matthew has been coaching some of the top youngsters in Hong Kong to win several youth titles. His next goal is to bring them to the international stage and have them compete with the best in the world.
An active person, in his free time, Matthew can be found in the gym or on the hiking trails with his dog.
Eduard Garcia Carles
2019 - present
Branch Manager Sheung Wan Centre
Head of Business Alignment
Coach Eduard is a certified FIDE instructor with a rating of 1900.
Eduard's chess career has been self taught but has embraced the step method for his teaching. He was introduced to chess at an early age but it wasn’t until the late teens that took chess seriously and quickly rose to second place in his local club. Eduard favours active and tactical play.
As the manager of the biggest branch, Eduard makes sure all Caissa materials, office and all events happening in the venue are running smoothly.
As the Head of Business Alignment it is his job that across all aspects of Caissa things are streamlined to ensure a consistent and high level is delivered. It also translates into helping daughter companies like Caissa Osaka to support and make sure they can follow the Caissa ways.
Eduard shares a long time of teaching across several countries chess and music, his other passion. Eduard holds a Bachelor of Music and three Postgraduates degrees including a Master in Piano Performance.
WFM Astrid Barbier
2024 - present
Senior Trainer
Introduced to chess at the age of four, Astrid took her very first steps in the chess world together with her mother, learning through the Step Method.
Growing up in a chess-playing family, she went on to become a multiple-time Belgian Women’s Champion and has represented Belgium on the national team since 2015.
At the 2022 Olympiad in India, she earned the title of Woman FIDE Master with an impressive 6/9 score.
In 2016, she qualified as a National FIDE Instructor, and over the past decade she has taught chess extensively in Belgium—leading school programs, organizing camps, and guiding players at major international events.
Coach Astrid also holds degrees in Adult Education and Gender & Diversity, and has conducted multiple research projects related to chess. Within Caissa, she serves as our specialist in girls’ chess, bringing both expertise and inspiration to her work.
Beyond the chessboard, Astrid finds joy in nature, sports, and creative pursuits.
CM Emile Boucquet
2024 - present
Senior Trainer
Coach Emile became a Candidate Master in 2021 and reached a peak rating of 2270. He’s still active as a player in the chess world and has the ambition to chase the FIDE Master title next.
As a youth player, he started taking chess seriously from the age of 11. Just like so many students are doing in Caissa, he worked his way through the Step Method. The titles started following with becoming a four-time youth champion of Flanders being one of his most notable achievements.
Also on the international chess scene, Emile has accumulated experience winning different tournaments in Europe and representing both his country and his club on the European and world stage. Next to that he won a silver medal at the world inter universities championships representing the University of Ghent.
Emile has an analytical way of playing chess, his specialty lies in opening preparation. Now also a FIDE Instructor and a School Instructor with teaching experience in Belgium and Hong Kong, he is focusing on sharing that information with his students.
If Emile is still ambitious as a chess player himself, he might even be more ambitious as a coach! From teaching beginners a solid foundation to guiding promising youth players to the top of their age, Coach Emile is ready to deliver!
In the few moments Emile is not busy with chess, you can find him on hikes, listening to music or practising sports. Emile also has a deep love for traveling (and what a surprise, especially if combined with a chess tournament!).
CM Nomindalai Tumurbaatar
2026 - present
Trainer
With more than 15 years of experience playing competitive chess, Coach Nomindalai, "Nomi", has built a strong record at both national and international tournaments.
She earned the title of Candidate Master in 2016, and reached a peak FIDE rating of 2230, reflecting a strong and consistent competitive career.
A former National Youth champion and National Rapid champion, she has also represented her country internationally, earning medals at the Asian Youth and Junior Championships.
Her extensive tournament experience allows her to guide students in areas such as competitive mindset, tournament preparation, game analysis, and long-term development.
Alongside her chess career, Coach Nomi is completing a degree in Sports Management, combining high-performance sport knowledge with practical coaching experience.
She is passionate about helping players build solid foundations, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for chess, whether they are beginners or aspiring competitive players.
Previous Coaches.
Once a Caissa coach, always a Caissa family member! Below a list of our previous coaches whom we thank a lot for their excellent and passionate contribution to our chess center and our students.
Lo Cheuk Wai, Sunny
2024 -2026
Trainer
Coach Sunny brings over 20 years of competitive chess experience to Caissa.
He has represented Hong Kong in major international events, including the Asia Dragons Invitational and the Asian Team Tournament in 2012 alongside Caissa founder David.
Known for his aggressive, attacking style, Coach Sunny has achieved strong results both locally and internationally, most recently earning 3rd place in the 2025 Hong Kong Chess Championship. In 2025, he earned his National Arbiter title, further strengthening his expertise in tournament regulations, fair play, and competitive standards.
He is the founder of a chess club in the Philippines, where he actively supports and develops local chess talents through structured training and competitive exposure.
Now based in Hong Kong, Coach Sunny is excited to bring his international playing background, coaching experience, and arbiter expertise to the Caissa community.
He holds degrees in English Language & Literature and Marketing, supporting a clear, structured, and student-focused coaching approach.
Alexander Wagner
2021 -2024
Part Time Trainer
Coach Alex holds a degree in Sociology and Business Communication.
He started chess at 8 and was U12 district/state champion in East Germany, later placing 3rd nationally with his club team.
After a career in business and software consulting, he returned to competitive chess in Luxembourg before joining Caissa as a part-time coach.
A FIDE Developmental Instructor, Alex favors a quiet, strategic style and enjoys hiking and cheering for the New York Knicks.
Kutsebeshchenko Dmitry
2022 -2023
Part Time Trainer
Coach Dmitry holds an engineering degree from Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
With a FIDE rating of 2169, he has 20+ years of playing experience and has coached players of all ages and levels in English and Russian.
A former pro, Dmitry won several top youth events in Russia and was trained by world-class coaches like Dvoretsky and Karpov's team.
As a university team captain and experienced coach, he’s passionate about sharing his deep chess knowledge.
CM David Rivas Villa
2017 - 2018
Senior Trainer
Coach David has a master degree in Industrial Engineering. With a FIDE rating of 2154 (max FIDE rating 2260 in 2008), David is currently one of the highest rated players in Hong Kong and he has extensive tournament play experience since his youth in Spain and upon joining Caissa also in Hong Kong now.
In 1999, he played the World Chess Championship U-16. He has trained, when they were young, important Spanish players like GM Anton Guijarro and GM Salgado Lopez. His hobbies are Sports, computers, fantastic novel and films. He is a Real Madrid’s fan.
David was instrumental in the early stages of Caissa, for example, setting up with Alberto the Elite Group Training Program - a first in Hong Kong.
David is back in Spain now.
Fong Li
Apr - Jun 2023
Senior Trainer
Coach Fong Li is about to finish her Master’s degree in Clinical Neuropsychology. She taught chess in the Netherlands for eight years, and as head coach of the youth chess club in her hometown she is very familiar with training youth players of various levels, also using the Step Method.
She is most passionate about teaching children chess, and hopes to also inspire more girls to start playing chess. She joined the Caissa team in April. In the future, she aims to work as a psychologist helping children cope with their daily struggles.
Apart from chess, Fong Li enjoys boxing and exploring new places.
IM Marcos Llaneza Vega
2018 - 2022
Senior Trainer (Master)
Coach Marcos studied Geography and History in Spain. He began chess at age 4 and became Spanish Champion in multiple youth categories.
He has competed in European and World Youth Championships and won international tournaments across Europe and Asia. A coach since age 15, Marcos has trained students of all levels—some became IMs, GMs, or Spanish Champions.
A key figure in Caissa’s training program, he now lives in Spain and continues to pursue his passion for chess and travel.
GM Alexander Ipatov
22 Aug 2017
World Youth Champion 2013
GM Ipatov, former Youth World Champion, is providing some Caissa students with online classes - although he is busy with his studies at the moment, if you are interested in his training, you can contact him directly at ipatovo@slu.edu.
GM Ipatov's 5-Year Anniversary Testimonial:
"Being exposed to the chess world since a young age, I had a chance to travel to different countries for tournaments, simul exhibitions and lectures. I can say with certainty - it is an arduous task to find someone within the chess world who would be as trustworthy and professional as David. It is always a pleasure to do projects with David and Caissa HK!"