IM Marco Pacheco Vivanco

Hi! My name is Marco Pacheco Vivanco (42), psychologist, international master and FIDE Trainer.

I represented Peru in five Chess Olympiads: Bled(2002), Calvia(2004), Turin(2006), Khanty-Mansiysk(2010) and Istanbul(2012). Two times Vice-Champion of my country(2002,2010); National Blitz Champion(2006); National Junior Champion in two opportunities(2002,2003); National University Champion another two times(2004,2005); Bronze Medal of the PanAmerican Junior Chess Championship, Sao Paulo(2003); Vicechampion of the Club Argentino de Ajedrez, Buenos Aires(2007); third place of the ITT Ciudad de Antofagasta(2012) and winner of many blitz, rapid and classic tournaments.

Since 2001, many of the leading peruvian chess masters have been trained by me: GM Jorge Cori, GM Cristhian Cruz, GM Kevin Cori, GM Brian Escalante, WGM Deysi Cori, IM Diego Flores Quillas, IM Fernando Fernandez, IM Steven Rojas, IM Jonathan Cruz, IM Diego Cuellar, IM Gonzalo Quirhuayo, among others. Since 2022, I have been working as Head Coach of the Peruvian Chess Federation. In addition, I previously worked with the federation in 2006 and during the 2013–2018 period. Throughout those years, the players under my guidance achieved major international successes, winning Youth and Absolute South American, Youth and Absolute Pan-American, Youth and Absolute Continental, and Youth World Championships. Furthermore, I was chosen as captain of the Peruvian national team at the Turin 2006 Olympiad; captain and coach of the Peruvian national team in Chennai 2022 and Budapest 2024.

Selected by FIDE America to be part of the prestigious “Talents of America 2026” program, an elite initiative that brought together some of the continent’s most outstanding chess coaches.

My work is defined by meticulous preparation, strategic precision, creativity, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement. Strong analytical skills and exceptional long-term memory allow me to deliver deep, high-level training tailored to each student’s competitive needs. These qualities have enabled me to help the vast majority of my students significantly improve their ratings and earn FIDE titles.

My coaching system is built around the gradual understanding of the most essential pawn structures, creating a strong strategic foundation before moving on to more specialized formations. Particular emphasis is placed on structures that are closely connected to the student’s personal repertoire, allowing for practical and immediate application in real games. At the same time, we will work on a wide variety of mixed endgames, studied progressively according to their complexity, ensuring a deep and structured improvement in endgame technique. In addition, we will establish and/or refine an opening repertoire tailored to the student’s style, strengths, and competitive needs, helping them feel confident and comfortable in every phase of the game. Finally, for established masters and students preparing for specific tournaments, matches, or opponents, a fully personalized and results-oriented training plan will be designed to address their immediate competitive needs with maximum efficiency and precision.