IM Miragha Aghayev

I'm Miragha Aghayev, an International Master since 2016, originally from Azerbaijan and based in Italy since 2003.

I am a Chief Instructor of the Italian Chess Federation, a commentator for Chess.com Italia, and a contributor to Torre & Cavallo Scacco!, Italy's leading chess magazine. I graduated in Political Science and International Relations from La Sapienza University of Rome.

My journey in chess started very early: I was a talented child player and studied at the Kasparov Chess School in Baku. Over the years, I built my path through discipline, study, experience, and a constant desire to improve - both as a player and as a coach.
I also speak several languages, allowing me to study chess literature, training methods and coaching philosophies from different countries, constantly refining my own approach.

I have won several national and international tournaments and achieved the title of FIDE Master in 2013 and International Master in 2016.

Among my competitive highlights:

1 GM norm achieved in the Turkish First League in 2022
Italian Team Chess Champion with Lazio Scacchi
Gold medal on my board in the 2025 Italian Team Championship
Multiple strong results in high-level team competitions in Italy and abroad
My competitive experience allows me to teach not only theory, but also the practical side of winning games, handling pressure, preparing for tournaments, and performing when it matters most.

For more than 16 years, I have been working professionally as a chess coach, helping players of different ages, backgrounds, and levels improve in a serious, structured, and enjoyable way.

My lessons are known for being clear, energetic, and never boring. One of my greatest strengths as a coach is the ability to explain complex ideas in a simple and memorable way. I often use comparisons, metaphors, and practical examples so that students do not just memorize moves, but deeply understand the logic behind them.

I am also a very empathetic coach. I pay close attention to the person in front of me: their character, emotions, mindset, confidence, and learning style. This allows me to adapt my teaching approach to each student and create a training environment that is both demanding and supportive.

My goal is not only to help students play better moves, but to help them become stronger, more confident, and more disciplined competitors.

Beyond coaching and playing, I am deeply involved in chess communication and promotion.

I have commented on top international events, including the World Championship Match between Ding Liren and Gukesh, and I regularly contribute to chess media through articles, commentary, workshops, podcasts, and collaborations with chess communities across Italy.

This broader experience gives me a rich and up-to-date view of the chess world, which I bring into my lessons.

My coaching combines:

master-level chess understanding
clear and effective communication
personalized training plans
mental coaching and motivational support
psychological insight and empathy
an international and multilingual perspective
Because I speak several languages and constantly study training methods from different chess cultures, I keep refining my approach and bringing fresh ideas into my lessons.

Several of my students have reached the level of FIDE Master, and others have earned International Master norms.

Over the years, I have worked with many ambitious and motivated players, including students who reached the level of FIDE Master and others who achieved International Master norms.

I work with each student in a highly personalized way: analyzing games, identifying strengths and weaknesses, improving opening repertoires, middlegame planning, endgame technique, calculation, positional understanding, and decision-making under pressure.

Whether you are an improving club player, a competitive tournament player, or someone with serious title ambitions, I can help you build a training path that is practical, ambitious, and sustainable.