What do you think makes you a good coach?
I understand that no single teaching style works for every student. Each child has their own strengths, personality, pace of learning, and way of understanding new ideas.
For me, good coaching means recognising those differences and adapting accordingly. I want to help every student experience success—whatever success looks like for them. Whether it is learning a new tactic, gaining the confidence to compete, or simply enjoying chess more, my role is to meet students where they are and help them move forward.
What are your key strengths?
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Patience – I give students the time and encouragement they need to understand new concepts without feeling pressured.
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Adaptability – I am comfortable changing my approach to suit different personalities, abilities, and learning styles.
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Communication – I can break chess concepts down and explain them in clear, accessible ways.
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Individualised coaching – I pay attention to what each student needs rather than assuming the same approach will work for everyone.
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Encouragement – I want students to recognise their progress and develop confidence in their own abilities.
Why do you love chess?
I love learning about different chess ideas and experimenting with new strategies, patterns, and ways of playing. It is fascinating to discover an idea and then work out how it can be applied in a real game.
I also particularly enjoy the psychological side of chess. You are not simply analysing the pieces on the board—you are also trying to understand your opponent. What are they planning? What are they expecting you to do? What opportunities might they have overlooked?
That combination of strategy, creativity, and understanding your opponent makes every game different.
When and how did you first learn to play?
I first learned to play chess when I was 11 years old through my intermediate school's chess club.
Being part of the club gave me the opportunity to learn the fundamentals, practise regularly, and gradually develop a deeper understanding of the game. Those early experiences sparked an interest in chess that has stayed with me.
Why do you enjoy working with kids?
One of the most rewarding parts of working with children is watching them take something they have been taught and then make it their own. There is a real sense of achievement when a student begins recognising patterns, solving problems independently, or applying an idea successfully in a game.
I particularly enjoy helping children build self-confidence. I want students to understand that their current ability does not determine what they can eventually achieve. With curiosity, effort, practice, and the willingness to keep learning, there is always room to grow.
What are your main chess achievements?
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Successfully completing Bronze-level chess examinations through my intermediate school.
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Progressing to and completing the Silver-level chess examinations.
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Developing a strong foundation in chess through structured learning and regular practice.
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Continuing to build my understanding of chess strategy and different approaches to the game.
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Using my chess knowledge to help young players develop their own skills and confidence.
Completing the Bronze and Silver levels gave me a structured foundation in the game and encouraged me to continue exploring chess beyond the concepts I initially learned at school.
How do you think chess helps kids?
Chess develops important skills such as critical thinking, patience, concentration, planning, and decision-making. It teaches children to look beyond what is happening right now and consider what might happen several moves into the future.
It also teaches an important lesson about resilience. Losing a game provides an opportunity to look back, understand what happened, and make better decisions next time.
I also value the sense of mutual respect and personal responsibility that chess develops. Your opponent may be older, more experienced, or higher rated, but ultimately the game is shaped by the decisions made on the board. This teaches children not to be intimidated by someone else's experience and not to underestimate anyone either.
Chess shows children that where you start matters less than the decisions you make, what you learn, and how you respond when things don't go your way.