Hiro’s father: “Ilija is the best coach we have had since Hiro started chess. He is very dedicated, professional, and has helped Hiro improve so much, not only in rating, but also in how he understands and approaches the game. When Hiro started working with Ilija, he was around 1150 USCF, and over the past 2.5 years, he improved to around 1800 USCF. The progress has been clear in every part of his game. His calculation became sharper, his positional understanding improved, and he started playing with much more confidence and maturity. What makes Ilija different is that he really pays attention to the student. He notices Hiro’s weaknesses, prepares carefully for the lessons, and always tries to fix the areas that need the most improvement. The lessons are not random. They are focused, serious, and connected to Hiro’s long-term development. We are very lucky to have Ilija as Hiro’s coach, and I would highly recommend him to any parent looking for a serious chess coach who truly cares about the student’s progress.”