Our Team

DIANA TULMAN

Diana, co-founder of ICA, has an obvious love for the game of chess which inspires her students not only to become better players but also to develop their own passion for the game.

IRINA LEVITINA

Irina is one of the world`s most accomplished female players dating back from the days of the Soviet Union.

ALEX STRIPUNSKY

GM Stripunsky has gained great respect and recognition as one of America`s Elite Grandmasters.

ALAN SALNIKOV

After undertaking many roles throughout the school, Alan founded and hosts a weekly livestream

TATIANA GRABUZOVA

Most kids are surprised to find that Tanya “a girl,” (as they put it) is the strongest chess player among our staff.

CHRIS WELCOME

NM Chris Welcome is an experienced chess instructor who's been teaching scholastically since the year 2000.

SLAVA KOZA

Slava has been teaching chess for over a decade. His knowledge of chess is based on both the tutelage of ICA`s founders, as well as informal games with his grandfather.

SERGEY GRABUZOV

Sergey is a graduate of the "Russian State University of Physical Education,"

IGOR YELISEYEV

"Chess and working with kids are two of the greatest passions that have happily synergized me in my work"

HANA ITKIS

Khana Itkis is a New York city based chess instructor and Woman Fide Master.

GENRY KRICHEVSKY

Genry has been a member of the ICA family for over 25 years. He began as a young student at the age of 4, and for over 15 years

EUGENE SOKOLOVSKIY

I fell in love with Mathematics when I was a teenager and am still fascinated with the subject.

IVETTE RUBIO

“I've been playing chess ever since I can remember. I didn't like it at first, but because it was introduced in school .. "

MAX SCHWARTZ

Max is a National Master who got his start at ICA at first as a student and then as a teacher.

SEAN FINN

Sean Finn is a candidate master who has taught chess professionally for many years.

VITALY TSEYTLIN

Vitaly's grandfather taught him to play chess at the tender age of 6, and he has liked the game ever-since.

NICHOLAS KATZ

Nicholas is known for his structured but fun and engaging teaching style where he aims to foster well-rounded players with no holes in their game.

DAVID RUBENFELD

David, as a result of three years of diligent concentration and earnest self-study, attained expert strength at sixteen years of age.

JOE PACELLA

Joe is a Chess Instructor and ICA Chief Tournament Director.

SIMON TSINIS

Simon is a childhood friend of Diana Tulman, ICA Director, and was a major influence in her introduction to the world of chess.

ANDREW VOLYNSKY

Andrew is a student at Cornell, and likes to consider himself a lifelong student in all disciplines, chess included.

MELANIE LERNER

Melanie Lerner carries a love for teaching chess. She uses instructional strategies such as cooperative learning to build her students’ cognitive skills.

ZOYA KOZA

Math education in the 21st century has visibly evolved. For over 20 years, as a math teacher in the New York City Public School System

ROBERT LIEBERMAN

Robert Lieberman has vast experience playing and teaching chess. He began playing at 9, and was a member of his championship high school chess team.

NATASHA KOMAROV

Dr.Natasha Komarov is the founder of Vermont Math Ciricle.

ILYA TSINIS

Ilya Tsinis has a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, graduated cum laude with a degree in Engineering

EVAN ROSENBERG

Evan S. Rosenberg is a National Master, an experienced teacher and coach, and a competitive adult improver.

ALESSANDRO

Alessandro has played chess since he was 5, and he has been teaching chess and directing tournaments since 2016.

ALLISON EISENBERG

Allie is a senior at Glen Rock High School, vice-president of her class and a high honor roll student.

ARTUR YUSUPOV

Qualifying three times for the World Championship semi-finals, Artur Yussupow (aka Artur Yusupov) is unquestionably considered one of the best players of the last two decades.

SASHA SHEFTER

Sasha is a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

MAXIM FARBEROV

Maxim Farberov is a US Chess Federation candidate master who has been playing competitively for 15 years and teaching for the past six.

LUKE MULVEY

Luke is a self-taught chess player and an enthusiastic teacher.

ALAN STOLYAROV

Alan has played competitive chess for 12 years and has been a teacher for 5 years. He first became interested in the game while playing with his dad.

MICHAEL PATRUCKER

A passionate instructor, Michael is one of our main coaches in our Livingston program

ALBERT ABZALIMOV

Despite being one of our newest Junior Coaches, Albert is a favorite amongst our students.