FM Martin Øksendal

My name is Martin Øksendal, I am an 18-year-old FM from Norway.

As with many Norwegians, watching Magnus Carlsen compete for the crown sparked my interest in the game at the age of 6.
Unfortunately, I did not pick up on the interest seriously before joining a friend in going to a local chess club at the age of 10. I got absolutely hooked on the game in the fall of 2018 and watched every minute of the 2018 World Championship. The passion for the game has remained since then, and the game keeps on fascinating me. Through sheer passion and interest in the game, I developed quickly, with my best year of improvement being from July 2021 to July 2022, when I gained 500 rating points from 1500 to 2000. I claimed the FM title in 2024 and got one final round away from scoring my first IM norm back then. After this, I had a bit of a plateau before scoring my first IM norm recently at the Granada Chess Open 2026.

I would love to share my passion for chess with you; shoot me a message if you have any questions :)

8 years of playing experience (started at 10 years old)
Became FM in 2024 at the age of 16
Scored 1st IM norm at the Granada Chess Open 2026
Reigning Norwegian junior champion
Participated thrice at the World Youth Championships (2022, 2024, 2025)
Participated twice at the European Youth Championship (2022, 2025)
Won multiple local tournaments in Norway and just across the Swedish border

My general approach is that before any lessons take place, I analyze a selection of your recent games in depth — examining not just tactical oversights, but recurring strategic patterns: how you handle imbalances, your decision-making under time pressure, opening repertoire choices, and endgame technique. This allows me to build an accurate picture of both your strengths and the specific weaknesses holding back your progress.

From this analysis, I develop a personalized study plan tailored to your playing style, rating level, and goals. Rather than applying a generic curriculum, I prioritize the areas that will yield the greatest improvement — whether that's calculation training, positional understanding, opening theory, or practical endgame skills.

Throughout our work together, I will continuously reassess your progress, adjusting the plan as new patterns emerge and previous weaknesses are addressed. My goal is not just to fix isolated mistakes, but to help you develop a deeper, more independent understanding of the game — so you can keep improving long after our sessions end.

Alternatively, I'm happy to work specifically on opening repertoires for ambitious e4 players, as I have quite a deep knowledge of the concrete details of the mainlines against all major systems for black.