Mikhail Demidov is a Russian chess FIDE Master and chess coach who was born on 15 December 1987 in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. Although he is best known as the coach for the successful female chess player Aleksandra Goryachkina, a strong grandmaster herself.
As a child, Demidov developed a love for chess and progressed through the ranks to become a FIDE Master (FM). While he excelled at the game, he found his true calling in coaching, prominently helping develop the talent of Goryachkina.
Aleksandra was ranked in top-10 women’s players worldwide and won the Girls U20 World Championship in 2013 and 2014. Demidov's coaching played a significant part in her successful performance in the 2020 Women's World Chess Championship, where she was the runner-up.
Aside from his work with Goryachkina, Mikhail has a successful career in coaching other players. His dedication to promoting chess and developing future grandmasters has made him a respected figure in the world of chess in Russia.
His notability came to the fore due to his coaching rather than his playing career.