Welcome to MVP Chess!

I'm Tom Shupe, an award-winning chess coach based in Alexandria, Virginia. I specialize in working with scholastic players and have coached students to state championships and major tournament victories. With a peak USCF rating of 2025 and top 0.1% rank on Chess.com, I help students reach their full potential.

Scholastic Tournament Training

💻 Online Lessons – Flexible & Global
Train from anywhere via Zoom. Lessons are interactive, high-quality, and can be recorded. Perfect for serious players worldwide.

🏛️ In-Person Lessons – Local & Focused
Available in Alexandria, VA. In-person training for players who thrive over-the-board. Simulate tournament conditions, review your games, and sharpen your skills face-to-face.

🔁 Ongoing Support Between Lessons
I review games, answer questions, and update parents to keep progress moving between sessions.

🏆 Tournament-Focused Training
We analyze games, prep sharp openings, and study elite strategies to boost tournament performance.

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Hollin Meadows Elementary School
Hayfield Elementary School

After-School Chess Clubs in Alexandria, VA

♟️ Award-Winning Instruction, Right at Your School
MVP Chess brings fun, competitive, and educational chess clubs to Alexandria schools. Each club blends strategy, creativity, and critical thinking.

🌱 Developing a Growth Mindset
Students learn to embrace challenges, grow from mistakes, and build confidence both on and off the board.

🥇 Medals & Recognition
Every student is recognized with a medal for their effort, improvement, and dedication.

❤️ Giving Back to the Community
10% of all registration fees go directly to the school’s PTA. Families support their child’s growth and their school.

🛡️ Local, Trusted, and Fully Insured
As a longtime Alexandria resident, I offer safe and professional programs with full insurance coverage.

  • “We chose Tom as a chess coach for our daughter because of his extensive experience teaching scholastic chess. Tom has wonderful way of relating to kids while encouraging their learning and building their enthusiasm for the game. I would highly recommend MVP Chess for children of all ages and skill levels.”

    John P. (Canada)

  • “Tom is such a great coach because he is kind and really likes to have fun when we are together. He teaches me lots of new things and we review games and even learn about Grandmasters!"

    Kimmy P. (Canada)

  • "So happy with Tom as a coach. We've seen great improvement in our son's chess abilities. Definitely recommend!"

    Katherine C. (Virginia)

  • "What separates Tom from other chess coaches is his extensive game knowledge and humanized approach to chess. I'm proud to call him my coach and hope to continue being a steward of the game with his guidance."

    Omer K. (Ohio)


  • "I'm very impressed with Coach Tom's proactive and diligent approach. His passion for chess shines through and his desire to help others is incredibly genuine. I can't recommend working with him enough."

    Kyla Z. (California)

  • "Tom is a supreme chess coach. His patient and honest coaching helped elevate my approach to the game of chess. His feedback was constructive and concise, and I truly felt his passion for coaching and playing through his guidance."

    Devon P. (Virginia)

Safe Play Certified

As a US Chess Safe Play Certified coach, I prioritize creating a safe, respectful, and positive environment for all players. Trained through the US Center for SafeSport, I am committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and protection in all my coaching sessions.

YouTube Partner

Check out my fast-growing YouTube channel, MVP Chess! With over 1,200 subscribers and counting, it’s a great way to see my coaching style in action. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, you'll find valuable insights to improve your game.