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Coach Lazar Vilotijevic
Coach Lazar Vilotijevic

Coach Lazar Vilotijevic

$90/hour
Estimated price

Responds within a day

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About
2700+ rating and top 800 worldwide on chess.com Earned Title At the World Open in 2014 (Age 13) 5 Time Suffern County Champion 4 Time Bergen County Champion Second Place at 6TH ANNUAL BOSTON CHESS CONGRESS Hundreds of First Place School District tournaments Rated 2175 at age 14 My aim as a mentor is for students to embark on a transformative journey where improvement is not limited to a single aspect of the game. From enhancing personal opening repertoires and mastering maneuvering positional middlegames to recognizing endgame patterns, my instruction covers the full spectrum of chess strategy and tactics. I look forward to seeing you elevate your chess potential and chess prowess to new heights. My name is Lazar, and I am a FIDE Candidate Master with an ELO rating of 2500 plus online. I’ve dedicated myself to the pursuit of the Grand Master title and have now returned to the game with renewed vigor. My passion for chess extends beyond personal achievement; I find immense joy in sharing my expertise through teaching. I am articulate in speaking my ideas across the board and am lucky to have gained this skill from reviewing my tournament games with my parents during my youth years. My educational portfolio spans from after school programs, to group adult lessons at local chess clubs. My teaching philosophy revolves around fostering a deep love for the game, believing that an ELO rating of 2000 plus is easily within reach when students truly enjoy their chess journey. When I am not instructing, you’ll find me absorbed in the world of chess, constantly studying and enhancing my skills to inch closer to the coveted Grand Master title. My commitment to chess is unwavering.
Overview

Hired 50 times

Serves San Antonio, TX

Background checked

1 employee

5 years in business

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This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Venmo, and Zelle.

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2023

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2022

Services offered
Level of experience
Work location

My customers travel to me

I work remotely (phone or internet)

Projects and media

13 photos

Projects and media

13 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

52 reviews

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pro avatar
Bonnie L.

Aug 28, 2024

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Hired on Thumbtack

I am thrilled to share our experience with Coach Lazar, who has been instrumental in my son’s chess journey over the past three months. When we first started lessons, my son was rated in the mid-1300s, and through Coach Lazar’s guidance, his rating has skyrocketed to the mid-1600s—an incredible increase of almost 300 points. From day one, Coach Lazar displayed remarkable patience and professionalism. He took the time to conduct a thorough assessment of my son’s strengths and weaknesses, tailoring each lesson to address specific areas for improvement. This personalized approach has made all the difference in my son’s development. What stands out the most is Coach Lazar’s ability to break down complex concepts into manageable parts. He encourages my son to think critically and independently. The lessons are engaging and challenging, yet always supportive, which has helped build my son’s confidence on and off the board. Additionally, Coach Lazar is always open to questions and provides constructive feedback that motivates my son to keep pushing his limits. It’s clear that Coach Lazar genuinely cares about his students’ progress and success. I cannot recommend him highly enough for anyone looking to improve their chess skills.

Details: 14 - 17 years old • Intermediate • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

Chess Lessons
pro avatar
Antro P.

May 17, 2025

Coach Lazar has been a fantastic chess coach for my son. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and great at explaining concepts in a way that’s easy to understand. My son’s confidence and skills have grown a lot since they started working together. Lazar keeps each lesson engaging and focused—highly recommend him for any young player looking to improve and enjoy the game!
pro avatar
Anushadevi M.

May 14, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

My son has been taking chess classes with Coach Lazar for few months now. Coat Lazar is incredibly patient and knows how to keep young players engaged. He has a knack for making complex concepts simple and fun. If you are looking for a skilled coach who is amazing with kids, I highly recommend coach Lazar.

Details: 6 - 9 years old • Beginner • Remotely (phone or internet)

Chess Lessons
pro avatar
Jennifer B.

Oct 11, 2023

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Hired on Thumbtack

We feel very lucky to have Lazar as our coach. He is highly knowledgeable about the game, but, most importantly, his people skills allow him to break things down effectively, helping his students think better. It's easy to talk to him, and he makes the game less intimidating, encouraging you to develop your own greatness. I'm convinced that my son's game has improved drastically, and it's delightful to see how much he enjoys his lessons instead of suffering through the process at his own pace. Lazar is polite, well-educated, and a positive influence in this somewhat stigmatic sport. I'm positive we'll hear great things from him in the chess world in the future. He's one of the most talented players we've had the privilege to know.

Details: 10 - 13 years old • Intermediate • I don't have an Elo rating • As recommended by teacher • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

Chess Lessons
pro avatar
Carl P.

May 18, 2025

I'm an adult improver and have been playing chess since the age of 7 years old. In that time I've tried (with some degree of success) various improvement methods ranging from puzzles, videos on openings, studying books such as Silman's endgame course and of course tactical exercises. The problem with the above methods for me is that doing these in isolation lacked structure and discipline. With Lazar's support I'm able to have high value conversations about very specific topics suited to my particular needs. Further, and probably even higher value is having Lazar analyse my games with me each week and for him to highlight specific areas we need to work on. Lazar's all round chess knowledge is very strong, he is very flexible with his availability and friendly in his approach. My overall understanding of the game has definitely improved thanks to Lazar and my ratings from blitz, rapid and classical have all increased. Without hesitation I highly recommend Lazar as a Chess Coach irrespective of your level.
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