JtM Co-Founder
Grandmaster Gergely Szabo is a FIDE Trainer from Romania and has coached Canadian teams at the World stage, including the 2018 Canadian Women’s Olympiad Team, as the Head Coach of the Canadian delegation at the 2015 World Youth Chess Championship in Greece, and as the Trainer and Captain of Team Canada at the 2014 U16 Olympiad, which won 5th place. As a player, GM Szabo has won several strong tournaments, including the Memorial "Victor Ciocâltea” GM group, București in 2009 and again in 2011.
JtM Co-Founder
Victoria Doknjas has been the Canadian Head of Delegation at the North American Youth Chess Championship (in New Jersey 2017 and in New York 2014), at the World Youth & Cadet Chess Championships (in Halkidiki, Greece 2015), and at the 2023 Pan American Youth Chess Championship; as well as Team BC Captain. She was the Co-Chair for the 2025 Canadian Youth Chess Championship and Canadian Open in British Columbia. She is a former Canadian Senior Woman Champion. Victoria also co-authored the Everyman chess book, What Chess Coaches Don't Tell You with FM John Doknjas.
JtM In-House Master
FIDE Master Joshua Doknjas tied for 1st Place at the 2019 North American Youth Chess Championship - U18 Open. He also won the 2018 BC Junior Championship as well as has seven national titles for his age including the 2019, 2012, and 2010 Canadian Youth Chess Championships. Joshua is a chess coach and co-authored the Everyman chess book, Opening Repertoire: The Sicilian Najdorf (2019) and authored Opening Repertoire: The Ruy Lopez (2020) and The AI Revolution in Chess (2022).
JtM In-House Master
FIDE Master John Doknjas won the 2024 and 2021 BC Championship; and the 2017 U18 Canadian Youth Chess Championship, as well as placed first in several strong tournaments in British Columbia, including the Grand Pacific Open in 2022 and 2015. John won a record four BC Junior Championships. He has been a chess coach for 9 years. John co-authored Opening Repertoire: The Sicilian Najdorf (2019) and What Chess Coaches Don't Tell You (2023) and authored Opening Repertoire: The Modern Benoni (2020) with Everyman Chess.
JtM In-House Master
National Master Neil Doknjas won the 2023 BC Championship, as well as was the Co-Champion for the 2024 and 2023 Keres Memorial. He has won five BC Youth Championships and four BC Grade Championships, as well as nationally, Neil won the 2012 U8 Canadian Youth Championship and tied for 1st Place in the 2022 Grand Pacific Open the 2021 U16 Canadian Youth Championship. He also won the 2019 and 2016 BC Junior Championship and the 2016 Oregon Open U2000 Championship. Neil teaches both private and group chess lessons.
JtM In-House Master
International Master Adrian Musat has been a Team Canada Coach at several international events including the 2023 World Youth Chess Championship in Italy, the 2022 World U16 Youth Olympiad in Azerbaijan, and 2022 World Cadet Chess Championship in Georgia. IM Adrian teaches both private and group chess lessons.
JtM In-House Master
Grandmaster Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux tied for 1st Place in the 2022 Canadian Zonal. He won the U12 North American Youth Chess Championship (NAYCC) in 2015 as well as was the 2018 Canadian Junior Chess Champion. Shawn has represented Team Canada at several World events including the World U16 Youth Olympiad and World Youth Chess Championships.
JtM In-House Master
Woman Grandmaster Maïli-Jade Ouellet won the Women Canadian Zonal in 2017 and the Women Continental Championship in 2019. She won three Canadian Youth Chess Championships and the North American Youth Chess Championship in U18 Girls at only 14 years old. Maïli-Jade has participated in several World Youth Chess Championships, Olympiads, and two World Cups. She is an integral member of our JtM Mentorship Program.
JtM Leadership Development Team Member
Woman FIDE Master Shuang Chen is a dedicated young chess player who ranked in the top 10 of the U10G section at the 2022 World Cadet Chess Championship in Georgia. She has consistently placed second in her age group at the Canadian Youth Chess Championship in 2022, 2024, and 2025, and won first place in the F13 section of the 2025 Pan American School Chess Championship in Brazil, earning the Woman FIDE Master title. Beyond competition, Shuang is passionate about sharing her chess journey, offering insights into both the technical and psychological aspects of the game.
JtM Leadership Development Team Member
National Candidate Master Wesley Russell is a seasoned chess player who has won both the Grade 6 and Grade 4 Provincial Championships, as well as tied for 2nd Place in the 2022 CYCC. Wesley enjoys sharing his passion for chess with younger players as part of the JtM National Training Program.
JtM Leadership Development Team Member
National Candidate Master Nolan Wu was the silver medalist at the 2024 Ontario High School Chess Championship and also tied for 3rd Place at the 2024 Canadian Youth Chess Championship (U14 Open). Working as the lead executive of his high school chess club and an active chess advocate in his community, Nolan is passionate about sharing the transformative power of chess with his peers.
JtM Leadership Development Team Member
National Master Justin Gao won the U10 National Youth Online Chess Championship in 2020. He won Grade 3, 5, and 6 BC Provincial Championships and tied for first place in many tournaments such as the 2023 and 2025 BC Youth Chess Championship, and 2023 BC Open (U1800). He has also been an eight-time Team BC player playing in the annual BC vs. WA Intermat - since Grade 1. More notably, he achieved his NM title in less than five months after earning his NCM title.
JtM Leadership Development Team Member
Jayden is a dedicated and ambitious young chess player who is eager to extend his passion beyond individual performance. He is actively training in the JtM Elite Group under GM Gergely, continuously working to strengthen his understanding and discipline in the game. Now stepping into a leadership role, Jayden is committed to giving back to the chess community, assisting younger JtM Students, and contributing to JtM’s culture of growth and excellence. He draws inspiration from his peers and mentors as he sets clear goals to reach the next level, both as a player and as a community leader.
