What do you think makes you a good coach?
I believe I am a strong coach because I am patient, approachable, and genuinely enjoy helping others learn. I want every student to feel comfortable asking questions, trying new ideas, and improving at their own pace.
I also bring previous coaching experience from another sport, where I developed strong skills in communication, encouragement, motivation, and adapting my teaching style to suit different individuals. These skills transfer naturally to chess coaching, where every student has their own strengths, challenges, and way of learning.
My goal is to create lessons that are both enjoyable and productive, helping students develop their chess ability while also building confidence in themselves.
What are your key strengths?
- Patience – I understand that improvement takes time, and I am happy to revisit ideas until a student feels confident.
- Approachability – I aim to create a relaxed environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and expressing their ideas.
- Adaptability – I adjust my explanations and coaching style to suit each child’s personality, experience, and learning needs.
- Resilience – I encourage students to remain positive after mistakes and see setbacks as opportunities to learn.
- Mentoring – I enjoy supporting young people not only with their chess skills, but also with their confidence, discipline, and attitude toward learning.
Why do you love chess?
Chess has been an important part of my life since childhood. I love the challenge, strategy, and creativity involved in every game. Each position presents a new problem to solve, and there is always another idea, pattern, or lesson to discover.
I also value the friendships and sense of community that chess creates. It brings people together across different ages and backgrounds, while offering endless opportunities to learn, compete, and improve.
When and how did you first learn to play?
I first learned to play chess when I was around five or six years old. My older brother introduced me to the game and taught me the basic rules and fundamentals.
That early experience sparked my interest, and over time chess developed into a lifelong passion. What began as a game shared with my brother gradually became something I wanted to study, practise, and understand at a much deeper level.
Why do you enjoy working with kids?
I enjoy working with children because it is incredibly rewarding to help them learn, grow, and become more confident. Children often bring curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm to each lesson, which makes coaching both enjoyable and meaningful.
Through spending time with my younger cousins and the younger siblings of close friends, I have developed patience, understanding, and the ability to communicate with children in a positive and encouraging way.
I particularly enjoy seeing the moment when a difficult idea finally makes sense to a student and they begin applying it independently.
What are your main chess achievements?
- Reaching a peak Chess.com rating of 2000.
- Developing a strong understanding of chess strategy, tactics, calculation, and positional play.
- Building many years of practical experience through regular play and study.
- Applying previous sports-coaching experience to chess instruction and mentoring.
- Developing the knowledge and confidence to teach players from beginner level through to more advanced concepts.
- Helping young players build strong foundations and a positive attitude toward improvement.
Reaching a rating of 2000 required consistent practice, discipline, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. That journey has given me valuable insight into how players improve and how to guide students through their own development.
How do you think chess helps kids?
Chess is much more than a board game. It teaches children to think carefully, solve problems, plan ahead, and make considered decisions. Every move encourages them to assess their options and think about the possible consequences of their choices.
Chess also develops patience, concentration, resilience, and personal responsibility. Students learn that mistakes are a natural part of improvement and that setbacks can be overcome by analysing what happened and trying a better approach next time.
These lessons extend well beyond the chessboard. They can support children academically, socially, and personally by helping them become more confident thinkers, more independent learners, and more resilient problem-solvers.