Max Illingworth is an Australian Chess Grandmaster, coach, and author. He earned the title of International Master (IM) in 2012 and then the coveted Grandmaster title in 2014, thus becoming the sixth Australian to achieve the latter feat. Illingworth has been a prominent player in a number of Chess Championships, including the Australian Junior Chess Championships, World Youth Chess Championships and Australian Chess Championships. He emerged as the winner in the 2014 Australian Chess Championships.
Born on 5 November 1992 in Gosford, New South Wales, Illingworth received his early coaching from Grandmaster Dejan Antic and International Master Gary Lane. At the 2012 World Junior Chess Championship in Athens, he scored especially well which assisted him in attaining the International Master title.