Meet GM Renier Castellanos!
GM Renier Castellanos er hentet inn som landslagstrener for kvinnene, etter at toppsjakkutvalget utlyste rollen tidligere i år. Renier ble hentet inn på bakgrunn av et imponerende intervju og samtaler med utvalget. Det ble foretatt intervju med 4 søkere, der det var 9 søkere totalt til rollen.
Spillerne som blir invitert til treningssamlingene, som vil foregå online 2 ganger i måneden frem mot OL 2026, er de høyest ratede aktive kvinnene i Norge, pluss et utvalg talenter som har hatt god utvikling. Deltakerne har nå blitt introdusert for treneren.
Vi spurte Renier om å komme med en tekst om seg selv og hans motivasjon for rollen, dette er hva han hadde å fortelle:
I am GM Renier Castellanos, a Spanish chess grandmaster and coach with a career spanning over two decades. As a player, I began at age 7, earning the International Master title in my early twenties and achieving a peak FIDE rating of 2528. I had the privilege of representing Chile in the 2004 Calvia and 2006 Turin Chess Olympiads and earned the Grandmaster title in 2024 after securing my final norm at the Menorca Open. My playing career has been a journey of growth through participation in various tournaments around the world.
As a coach, my main work is at Killer Chess Training Academy, where I train students of all levels and ages. My training methods are based on improving intuition, pattern recognition, and helping players make better decisions at the chessboard. I have over 20 years of experience, including supporting the Barbados women’s team at the 2016 Baku and 2018 Batumi Olympiads.
As the newly appointed coach of the Norway women’s national chess team, I am deeply honored and grateful to the Norway Chess Federation for entrusting me with this role. My hope is to collaborate with the team to achieve a strong result at the 2026 Chess Olympiad. Beyond this, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of women’s chess in Norway through a fruitful collaboration, fostering development, teamwork, and a shared passion for the game. With dedicated training and a collaborative spirit, I hope to support the players in growing as a team and enjoying success together.
Photo: David Llada