What do you think makes you a good coach?
I really enjoy teaching and helping young people understand something they may initially find difficult. There is something very rewarding about seeing a student go from being unsure about a concept to understanding it and being able to apply it independently.
I also have around two years of paid tutoring experience, working with students from Year 2 through to Year 11 in English, Maths, and Science. That experience has taught me that every student learns differently and that being a good teacher requires patience, clear communication, and the ability to adapt your approach.
With chess, I want students to enjoy themselves while also being challenged to think, learn, and improve.
What are your key strengths?
- Communication – My tutoring experience has taught me how to explain ideas clearly and in different ways when something doesn't immediately make sense.
- Patience – I understand that students learn at different speeds and sometimes need time, repetition, or a different explanation.
- Adaptability – Having tutored children across a wide age range, from Year 2 to Year 11, I am comfortable adjusting how I communicate and teach.
- Leadership – Being a school prefect has given me experience taking responsibility, setting a positive example, and working with different people.
- Encouragement – I enjoy helping students recognise their progress and develop confidence in their own abilities.
- Focus and perseverance – I understand the value of setting goals and working consistently towards them, both academically and through challenges such as completing the Auckland Half Marathon.
Why do you love chess?
I enjoy chess because it combines strategy, problem-solving, and competition in a game where your decisions really matter. You have to think ahead, understand what your opponent might be planning, and constantly adjust your own ideas as the position changes.
I also like that chess is easy to start learning but incredibly difficult to master. There is always something new to discover, and every game gives you an opportunity to learn from the decisions you made.
When and how did you first learn to play?
I became involved with chess while attending Whangaparāoa Primary School, where I joined the school chess club.
Through the club, I had the opportunity to play regularly and participate in inter-school chess tournaments. Those experiences gave me an appreciation not only for the competitive side of chess but also for the social side of the game and the friendships that can develop around it.
Why do you enjoy working with kids?
I genuinely enjoy helping kids learn. Through tutoring students in English, Maths, and Science over the past two years, I have seen how rewarding it can be when a student finally understands something they have been struggling with.
Children also bring different personalities, interests, and ways of thinking to every lesson, so teaching never feels exactly the same.
One of the things I enjoy most is helping a student become more confident and independent. Eventually, you want them to reach the point where they no longer need you to give them the answer because they have developed the skills to work it out for themselves.
What are your main chess achievements?
- Member of the Whangaparāoa Primary School Chess Club.
- Represented the school in inter-school chess tournaments.
- Developed practical chess experience through school competition and regular play.
- Maintained an interest in chess beyond primary school.
- Now combining my chess experience with two years of paid tutoring experience to introduce and teach the game to younger players.
While I haven't pursued chess at an elite competitive level, I enjoy the game and particularly value the opportunity to combine chess with something else I am passionate about — teaching young people.
How do you think chess helps kids?
Chess develops concentration, critical thinking, problem-solving, patience, and decision-making. It teaches children that before making a decision, it is worth stopping to consider the possibilities and think about what might happen next.
It can also teach children how to focus for longer periods of time, which is increasingly valuable. Maintaining concentration can be challenging for young students, but chess gives them a reason to stay engaged because every move creates a new problem to solve.
Chess also teaches resilience. Not every plan works and not every game ends in a win. Children learn to look at what happened, identify what they could do differently, and try again. Over time, that can help them become more patient, independent, and confident problem-solvers, both at the chessboard and away from it.