GM Mark Heimann
I earned the grandmaster title as an adult while working full time as a machine learning researcher. I still compete in professional tournaments, and I give lectures, exhibitions and lessons.
- Title
- Grandmaster
- FIDE ID
- 2028441
- Federation
- United States
Work with me
For clubs, schools, companies, tournaments and individual players, in person or online.
Technical lectures
Game analysis and training topics for club and tournament players, built around my own games.
Talks for general audiences
Chess for people who do not play it: what the game teaches, and what it took to reach the top title around a full-time research job.
Exhibitions and demonstrations
Simultaneous exhibitions, exhibition matches and live demonstrations for clubs, schools and events.
Lessons
One-on-one coaching for improving players.
Career highlights
-
2025Grandmaster title awardedThe highest title in chess, earned while working full time in research.
-
2024Saint Louis MastersFinal grandmaster norm, a week after the U.S. Masters.
-
2024U.S. MastersGrandmaster norm, finishing on board one against Fabiano Caruana in the last round.
-
2022International master titleThree norms in four months as a non-career player.
-
2020States Chess CupReached the playoff finals. Two annotated games published by US Chess.
-
2012Pan-American IntercollegiateDivision II national champions, playing first board for Washington University in St. Louis.
Writing
Tournament reports and essays for Chess Life, the magazine of the United States Chess Federation.
-
2025The 2024 U.S. MastersThe tournament that produced one of my grandmaster title results.
-
2024The 2024 National OpenThe fight for grandmaster norms at one of the biggest opens on the American circuit.
-
2023The 2023 U.S. Amateur Team North ChampionshipCompeting with a team of University of Michigan alums.
-
2022My first international master normOn earning a norm as a non-career chess player.Nominated for Best Personal Narrative, Chess Journalists of America
Book a lecture, exhibition or lesson
Email me with the date, the audience and what you have in mind.