Oluwaseun Bisiriyu-Salam
FIDE Lead School Instructor
Neamul Neru
FIDE Instructor
I am the Founder and Director of Livingston Scholastic Chess, where I work closely with schools to build structured chess programs that promote critical thinking, focus, and problem-solving among students.
In 1996, while waiting to begin my first year of college, I started playing chess professionally. Throughout my college years, I competed actively, representing my college, state, and country. From 2002 to 2004, I was honored as the overall Best Male Athlete. During this time, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, where I developed a deeper appreciation for the relationship between chess and critical thinking. Like philosophy, chess encourages analytical reasoning, strategic thinking, and disciplined decision-making, making it a powerful educational tool.
Motivated by this connection, we introduced the Chess Aided Mathematics Program (CAMP) as an experimental initiative designed to support students facing challenges in mathematics. The results were outstanding, demonstrating that chess can significantly enhance students’ problem-solving and cognitive abilities. This experience reinforced my belief that every child should have the opportunity to learn chess, regardless of whether they intend to become professional players.
With over 30 years of tournament experience and 20 years of teaching, I have developed into a professional chess coach and tournament director.
My credentials include
FIDE Lead School Instructor (Teacher Trainer),
Licensed FIDE Instructor (FI),
FIDE School Instructor (SI),
Licensed FIDE National Arbiter,
US Chess Federation Club Tournament Director.
I have helped schools, libraries, and scholastic institutions develop chess programs, taught curriculum and after-school classes, worked at chess camps in New York and New Jersey, and directed over 100 US Chess Federation rated K–12 tournaments.
Neamul Neru is an experienced chess educator and accomplished tournament player who follows the structured teaching methods used in our scholastic chess programs.
As a FIDE Instructor with a FIDE rating of 2190 and a US Chess Federation rating of 2254, he brings both strong competitive experience and a deep understanding of chess instruction.
Mr. Neru represented his country at the Chess Olympiad, one of the most prestigious team competitions in the chess world. Earlier in his career, he achieved significant success as a young player, becoming Bangladesh National Sub-Junior Champion (U-16) in 1979 and finishing 5th in the Bangladesh National Junior Championship in 1984.
In addition to his competitive achievements, Mr. Neru is dedicated to teaching chess in a clear, structured, and student-friendly manner. Using the same curriculum and step-by-step instructional approach applied across our programs, he helps students build strong fundamentals, develop tactical awareness, and strengthen their strategic thinking while maintaining an engaging and supportive learning environment. His experience and passion for chess make him a valuable instructor for students of all levels.