CheckMate Kids
Little players, big thinkers —
from first moves to three steps ahead of you.
CheckMate Kids
Little players, big thinkers —
from first moves to three steps ahead of you.
Our Programme
Sundays at Hotel Rafayel
Our premier chess experience — riverside weekend sessions with small group coaching and competition.
View DetailsTuesdays at Battersea Chess Club
A one-hour midweek session — the regular top-up between Sundays with small group coaching and friendly games.
View DetailsSaturdays at Battersea Library
Free and casual, no booking needed — perfect for beginners.
View DetailsLittle Pawns
Classes for our youngest players. Focused on learning how the pieces move and building early confidence across the basics in a fun, engaging environment.
Explore Little PawnsPrivate Coaching
One-to-one coaching with experienced coaches — built around your child's game, their goals, and your schedule. Whether they are learning the rules or sharpening up for a junior tournament, we match them with the right coach and build a plan to take their game to the next level.
Ready to find the right coach?
Explore private coaching
Meet the Team
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![A man with short, messy hair smiling while playing chess at a table, wearing a black t-shirt with a small white logo, sitting in front of a chessboard with yellow and brown pieces, against a plain light-colored wall.]()
Sam Walker
CO-FOUNDER, NATIONAL MASTER
My chess story: From learning the moves from Mum and Dad, to trying to play the best moves I could in World Junior Olympiads... chess has played a huge role in my life! I love trying to bring this joy to others.A chess moment I’ll never forget: Being British U14 Chess Champion way back in 2008 — and I have no shame in bringing it up in conversation.
Off the board: Anything history — from reading historical fiction to listening to a podcast on a long walk.
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![A man with curly dark hair and a beard playing chess on a wooden board while seated at a desk against a plain off-white wall.]()
Gabriel Barr
CO-FOUNDER
My chess story: My mum bought me a chess set at 5, my dad taught me the rules, and my local club did the rest. Over 25 years of chessing on, I’m doing more coaching than playing but still reckon I’ve got a shot at Grandmaster (the kids disagree).A chess moment I’ll never forget: Giving chess lessons to comedian Phil Wang. Turns out it’s possible to make chess even more fun!
Off the board: I can be found on 5-a-side pitches across South London.
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![A young woman with glasses and curly hair smiling while sitting at a chessboard with a game in progress. She is wearing a black T-shirt with a royal chess piece design. The background is plain white with a green label in the top right corner saying 'Checkmate Kids'.]()
Archi Agrawal
COACH
My chess story: My dad taught me how to play when I was 5, then I went on to playing international tournaments in my teens and eventually stopping because of covid and uni. Rediscovered my love for chess in London — and now I’m here!A chess moment I’ll never forget: People being scared of playing me as a child because I was “too strong to be unrated” at the time.
Off the board: You can find me reading a book or enjoying the sun these days.
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![A young man with brown hair and a beard, wearing a black T-shirt, concentrating while playing chess at a wooden chessboard. He is resting his head on his left hand and making a move with his right hand. The background is plain and light-colored. The image also features a logo that says 'CHECKMATE KIDS' in the top right corner.]()
Dashiell Shaw
COACH, NATIONAL MASTER
My chess story: I played a lot of chess as a kid after my dad taught me the game. I rediscovered my love for the game during covid and now play regular competitive chess.A chess moment I’ll never forget: Drawing my last round game to qualify for the England Junior squad.
Off the board: I also took up chessboxing and have done one bout.
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![A man with a beard and bald head playing chess, making a move on the chessboard.]()
Benedict Lewis
COACH
My chess story: My Dad taught me the rules when I was young; I played him and a few friends casually but never more than that. I didn’t play for years, but then took the game back up as an adult and have been hooked since!
A chess moment I’ll never forget: My team winning our division this year in the Central London League.
Off the board: If I’m not playing over the board, I’m on the court. I’m a big tennis fan — meeting Andy Murray at last year’s LCC was a personal highlight.
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![A young man with curly black hair, a mustache, and a goatee, wearing a black shirt with a chess piece symbol, sitting at a chessboard with chess pieces arranged for a game, in front of a plain light-colored wall.]()
Alex Blanc
COACH
My chess story: I’ve played chess ever since I can remember. From casual family games, to representing Surrey as a teenager, it’s been a great journey. Nowadays, I play and coach alongside my main work as a tutor. It’s such a pleasure to share all the great things I’ve discovered with the next generation of players.
A chess moment I’ll never forget: Playing against International Master Adam Taylor at a Simultaneous Exhibition match.
Off the board: I’m a keen theatre director and playwright who’s put on plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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![Young man playing chess on a green and white chessboard, smiling, wearing a black t-shirt, with a white background.]()
Dara Pirouznia
COACH
My chess story: This only really started when the pandemic hit, and my dad started challenging me to near-daily games. Determined to beat him, I got hooked, and over the years that obsession with online chess grew. It followed me to KCL, where I still play at the weekly chess club as a dental student.
A chess moment I'll never forget: a spontaneous South Bank trip turned into an outdoor chess tournament, where I won 7 blitz games in a row against strong locals. I can still picture some of the sacrifices!
Off the board: I can usually be found at the gym or on a tennis court, enjoying sports with my family and friends.
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![A young man with light brown hair and a beard, wearing a black T-shirt, sits at a chessboard looking at the camera inside a modern indoor space with large windows and decorations. There are other people in the background, some playing chess, some standing, and Christmas decorations are visible.]()
Marcus Harvey
AMBASSADOR, INTERNATIONAL MASTER
One of the UK's top 20 players and an International Master closing in on the Grandmaster title, with a GM norm and the 2500 rating already in hand — all while working full-time as an a Data Scientist within Digital Advertising.
Marcus was runner-up at the 2021 British Championships, English Online Blitz Champion in 2020, and a three-time British Junior Champion (U14, U15 and U18). In over 23 years of competitive play he's represented England across international tournaments and European championships, and recently held Magnus Carlsen to a draw in Titled Tuesdays. He is largely self-taught!
Get in touch
Not sure which session fits your child, or enquiring about a bursary? Check the FAQs below — or send us a message and we'll help you find the right fit. You can also email us at coaching@checkmateexperiences.co.uk.
By submitting, you agree to us contacting you about your enquiry. Bookings are subject to our CheckMate Kids T&Cs, Privacy Notice and Safeguarding Policy.
FAQs
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Our sessions are designed for children aged 5–15. We group children by age and ability so everyone is playing and learning at the right level. Speak to us if your children are out of this range.
We have our Little Pawns club which is for 4-7 year olds.
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Absolutely. Many of our players start as complete beginners. Our coaches teach right from the very first move, in a friendly, encouraging way, so no experience is needed at all.
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Yes. At our Sunday and Tuesday sessions in particular, we group by ability, so stronger and more experienced players are stretched too — with more competitive games and tournament preparation.
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A mix of coaching and play — a chess theme such as ‘middle game strategies’ or ‘pin-based puzzles’, then plenty of games where children put it into practice, with coaches on hand throughout. The focus is on enjoyment, confidence and steady improvement, not pressure.
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Sundays at Hotel Rafayel (2–5pm), Tuesdays at Battersea Chess Club (6–7pm), and free Saturday chess at Battersea Library (1-2.30pm).
Full details, including ages and prices, are on our Programme above. Holiday camps run during school breaks — dates announced ahead of each holiday.
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You can contact us by:
Messaging: 07849 077058
Using our enquiry form
Email us: coaching@checkmateexperiences.co.uk.
We are always happy to discuss which environment is the best fit for your child's current chess level.
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Sunday sessions are £45 early bird / £60 standard; Tuesday sessions are £15, with £50 for the month. There's no membership required — simply book the sessions that suit you.
Our Saturday club at Battersea Library is free, and we have bursaries available for the paid sessions — just get in touch.
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Most sessions are booked online through our website — just pick a date, reserve your child's place and pay by card, with instant email confirmation.
Our Saturday club at Battersea Library is the exception: it's free, with no booking needed — just turn up!
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Yes. All our coaches hold an enhanced DBS check including the Children's Barred List. CheckMate Experiences is fully insured and ICO-registered, and we follow clear safeguarding policies at every session. You can read our full safeguarding policy here.
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Just a water bottle to stay hydrated - snacks are optional. All equipment is provided.
For full-day summer camps, they should bring packed lunches and snacks.
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We run drop-off sessions — please collect your child promptly at the stated finishing time.
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Full booking terms, including cancellations and refunds, are set out in our Terms & Conditions.
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Yes! Alongside our in-person sessions in Battersea, London, we offer one-to-one online private chess coaching. Our titled players and experienced coaches tailor every online session to your child's age and ability, whether they are absolute beginners or competitive junior players. See our private coaching page.