I am a chess player and coach from Norway. I became an International Master (IM) at the age of 15 and currently have a FIDE rating of 2500. In the age-group categories, I have won the Norwegian Championship several times, and I also finished 3rd in the U18 European Championship. In the Elite Group of the Norwegian Championship, I have three podium finishes, most recently taking 2nd place in 2026. I am also a Norwegian Champion in both blitz and rapid chess. I have achieved two GM norms and represented Norway at the European Team Championship. In 2022, I was the coach of the Norwegian women’s team at the Chess Olympiad, and in 2026 I will represent Norway as a player at the Chess Olympiad.
I started working as a full-time chess coach in 2024. Today I coach several of Norway's biggest talents, as well as players of different ages and levels, through online training, private lessons, group training, and tournament preparation — both in Norway and internationally. I am committed to following my students closely and adapting the training to each individual, so that we can focus on what will lead to the greatest development. My goal is not only to help my students become better chess players, but also to pass on the same joy and enthusiasm for chess that I have for the game myself.
I have particularly much experience coaching young players, and this is an area I am passionate about. At the same time, I also coach adults and players of all ages and levels. I tailor the training to each student's level, goals, and what we see is most important to work on. Through coaching many different players, I have also learned a great deal about how training can best be adapted to the individual.
Between sessions, students receive customized tasks and homework, allowing us to continue working on what we have focused on during our lessons. Many of the students I have worked with over time have made significant rating gains, but for me, good development is about more than rating. The most important thing is to develop as a player, understand chess better, and become better at thinking and making good decisions during games.
"Tor Fredrik is incredibly good! Nothing less. He is by far the most popular coach we have at Dragulf. The kids love him – and he seems to love them too. In the sense that he genuinely enjoys seeing the young players develop and improve. He has understood that as a coach, you give and give, without necessarily getting anything back. Other than happy kids and young players. I recommend him in the strongest terms, and I'm very excited to see what results will come out of the work he does and has done for several years."
GM Simen Agdestein Dragulf
"Professional, pedagogical and dedicated. Kaasen is a fantastic coach who combines deep chess understanding with genuine commitment and a strong focus on his student's development."
– Audun Mortensen, father of Michael Mortensen
Since I started working as a full-time chess coach in 2024, my students have achieved very strong results. They have won 10 Norwegian Championship titles in age-based classes and one Nordic Championship, while many of my students have also made significant rating gains. Here are a few examples:
Available for individual coaching, group training, and assignments for chess clubs.
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