Here you can read what students, parents, and others I have worked with say about the training.
"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
"Professional, pedagogical, and dedicated. Kaasen is a fantastic coach who combines deep chess understanding with genuine engagement and a focus on the student's development."
– Audun Mortensen, father of Michael Mortensen
"Tor Fredrik has played a central role in my development from a beginner to a 2000-rated player, and I am sure that with his help I can reach much higher. He explains both general and concrete nuances and principles in a way that is very easy to understand and often easy to apply in practice. It is not uncommon for me to remember something Tor Fredrik has said and use that knowledge to find the right plan in my games. When I have a question, he immediately brings up a game that gives me exactly the answer I need. Although a computer can be useful, it is nothing compared to training with Tor Fredrik, because he not only tells me the right plan, but helps me understand exactly why."
– Erik Gurakar Skribeland
"Pantham has been a student of Tor Fredrik Kaasen for about five years, since we first came to Norway. Tor is an excellent coach, both in terms of his deep chess knowledge and his ability to teach and communicate with young players.
With Tor's coaching and guidance, Pantham has improved his FIDE rating from around 1200 to over 2200 and has become Norwegian Champion twice, in the Cadet and Junior categories.
We are very grateful for Tor's support and the important role he has played in Pantham's development as a chess player."
– Yongyos Kaewpitakkun, father of Pantham
"Tor Fredrik is a wonderful chess coach who is both highly skilled and genuinely invested in the young players. He has a real passion for chess, but is just as good at seeing each individual and meeting them where they are.
He puts a lot of work into helping the young players improve, while also making sure they have fun and experience a sense of mastery. There's room to make mistakes, ask questions, and try again. He creates a safe, positive environment where the young players feel seen and taken seriously.
What perhaps matters most is that he cares. He follows up, encourages, and cheers the young players on, even when things don't quite go according to plan. With knowledge, patience, and good humor, he has become an important person for many of them.
He doesn't just teach chess – he also helps the young players build greater self-belief, learn to think independently, and experience the joy of developing as players. A coach who truly makes a difference."
– Helene Tronstad Moe, mother of Astor Moe Maurstad