International Chess Academy

♟️ About International Chess Academy

International Chess Academy (ICA) is a privately owned chess school and tournament organizer serving Bergen County, New Jersey, USA, with permanent locations in Glen Rock and Teaneck. The academy was founded in 1996 by Diana Tulman and WGM Irina Levitina, initially operating as the Chess School of Teaneck before adopting its present name as the program expanded. ICA provides structured chess education from beginner through master level while also organizing US Chess- and FIDE-rated competitions. ICA combines weekly instruction with Future Masters and Masters programs, private coaching, after-school chess, online classes, scholastic camps, Grandmaster camps, and a large tournament program. Its recurring competitions include the ICA FIDE Championship, ICA Open Championship, Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Championships, and frequent Glen Rock Quads. The academy serves hundreds of students each season and also offers virtual programs, allowing players outside New Jersey to join its training system. Diana Tulman remains Co-Founder and Director of International Chess Academy and is the principal operational contact for the organization. Co-founder WGM Irina Levitina, a former Women’s World Championship challenger and three-time U.S. Women’s Champion, continues to teach advanced students, while GM Alexander Stripunsky leads important master-level programs. ICA remained extremely active throughout 2026, with weekly tournaments, FIDE Championships in April and July, Open Championships, summer camps, and new in-person and virtual classes scheduled for the fall 2026 semester.

📜 History and Development

ICA began in 1996, when Diana Tulman and Irina Levitina started chess programs in Teaneck after arriving in the United States from the former Soviet Union. The original program began with a small group of students. Levitina developed its advanced Future Masters and Masters instruction, while Tulman managed the academy’s broader educational program. As enrollment and the coaching staff expanded, the Chess School of Teaneck evolved into the International Chess Academy. The organization subsequently added another permanent location in Glen Rock, along with online teaching, camps, mathematics programs, and a substantially larger tournament calendar. The academy marked roughly 30 years of activity in 2026, while continuing the educational model established by its founders.

🎓 Chess Training and Development

ICA offers training for players ranging from complete beginners to nationally ranked juniors and advanced tournament competitors. Its teaching staff includes titled players and experienced coaches. WGM Irina Levitina remains closely connected with the Masters program, while GM Alexander Stripunsky is a leading instructor for advanced players. The 2026 GM Summer Camp, headed by Stripunsky, was designed for strong juniors with established US Chess or FIDE ratings. Seven training weeks were scheduled between late June and mid-August, combining intensive chess instruction with practical competition and physical activities. Alongside advanced training, ICA operates scholastic camps for children aged approximately 6–16, in-person courses in Glen Rock and Teaneck, private instruction, and virtual semesters.

🏆 ICA Tournament Program

Tournament chess is a major part of the academy’s year-round activity. ICA organizes competitions for beginners, juniors, adult club players, masters, and FIDE-rated competitors. The Glen Rock Quads are among its most frequent events and were staged repeatedly throughout the first eight months of 2026. ICA also runs its Open Championships on a recurring basis, generally alternating stronger open competition with rating-restricted events. Another established series is the Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Championships, which provides several rating sections and opportunities for younger players to transition into longer tournament formats. This regular competition schedule allows students to combine lessons with practical tournament experience rather than treating training and competitive chess as separate activities.

🌟 ICA FIDE Championship

The ICA FIDE Championship is the academy’s principal tournament for advanced competitors. In 2026, entry was aimed at players rated approximately 1800+ FIDE or 1900+ US Chess, making it the strongest regular event on ICA’s calendar. The first 2026 edition took place on April 18–19 in Glen Rock. The four-round tournament attracted a field led by GM Bryce Tiglon, who shared first place with Mark Leo Kogan on 3.5/4. FM Aditeya Das was among the players finishing on three points. A second ICA FIDE Championship followed on July 18–19, 2026. Five players — Priyansh Garg, Aaryan Mummidi, Yefim Treger, Anvith Reddy Marri, and Melanie Liang — finished level on 3/4. Both events demonstrate ICA’s ability to provide serious FIDE-rated classical competition alongside its larger scholastic program.

🌟 Irina Levitina and Advanced Chess

ICA’s coaching identity is closely connected with co-founder WGM Irina Levitina. Before establishing the academy, Levitina was one of the strongest women players in the world, challenged for the Women’s World Championship, and won the U.S. Women’s Championship in 1991, 1992, and 1993. She later concentrated much of her chess work on teaching the next generation through ICA’s advanced programs. In 2024, Levitina was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame. She continues to appear on ICA’s current coaching team, linking the academy’s educational program with a distinguished international competitive career.