About IM Suyog Wagh

I started playing chess at around eleven in Ahmednagar. I soon began playing tournaments and spending more time on the game.

At school level I was a two-time gold medalist at national school events, and won an individual board gold at the National School Games as captain of the Maharashtra team. I represented India at two World Junior Championships, in 2014 and 2019, and at the Western Asian Chess Championship, and in 2018 I won gold in the Under-20 section of the Commonwealth Championship. Playing these events gave me experience against stronger players. I became a FIDE Master in 2018, and won the Maharashtra State Rapid and Blitz titles the following year.

Chess has since taken me to tournaments across Asia and Europe, from Vietnam and Malaysia to Spain, the Netherlands and Azerbaijan.

The IM title took longer than I wanted

In January 2022 I went to Serbia to chase my first IM norm. I fell just short in the first tournament, and again in the second. In the third, the Orbis-2 round robin in Paraćin, I finished unbeaten on 7.5/9 and got it. Four months later came a second norm in Prague.

It took more than two years to get my third norm, in Abu Dhabi in 2024. In July 2025 I scored two in ten days, at Andújar in Spain and La Plagne in France, crossed 2400 on the August rating list, and became an International Master.

Getting the title took time. Along the way, I had to keep looking at my games and working on the mistakes that were costing me points.

Why I coach

I teach one-to-one lessons online. Students so far have ranged from 7 to 49 years old. Some students want to reach a certain rating. Others are unsure what to study, or need help preparing for tournaments. I also work with parents who want regular coaching for their children.

In lessons, I try to make things clear. We go through your thinking, discuss the positions you find difficult, and decide what to practise next.

I learn from teaching too. Explaining a position makes me think more carefully about it.

I still play tournaments

I'm still working towards the Grandmaster title. Preparing openings, studying opponents and dealing with time pressure are part of my own tournaments too. I bring that experience into my lessons.

Away from the board I make chess videos, to share my journey and help people improve.

How I coach →  ·  Full career timeline →