Alex’s Journey: From a Shy 5-Year-Old to a Confident Chess Champion

Almost two years ago, a bright-eyed five-year-old named Alex from the UK joined my group chess classes. At the time, our students ranged in age from 5 to 12, and Alex was the youngest of them all. Although he was a bit shy at first, I saw noticeable progress in him every week.

In our classes, I always remind the students that there are no silly questions and that every experience is a learning opportunity—after all, in chess we either win or learn; we never truly lose. With that mindset, Alex quickly began to grow not only in his skills but also in his confidence.

Starting with the Pawn Course, Alex eagerly absorbed everything he could. His dedication was so evident that he soon decided to join the Samurai Class—the final course in our Incredible Chess Programme—while still working on the King Course. In this advanced class, he was again the youngest student, surrounded by peers aged 12 and 14. Yet, his determination shone through, proving that age is no barrier to learning and excelling.

Every class began with a fun and challenging warm-up called Puzzle Racer. I still remember Alex’s first attempt: he solved only 4 puzzles while the highest score among the group was 27. I encouraged everyone by saying, “Practice makes it better.” And practice it was! According to his mom, all Alex did was play chess. His commitment was clear as he steadily improved his scores week after week, pushing his friends to raise their game as well.

Before long, the determined seven-year-old was scoring an impressive 44 on Puzzle Racer. To celebrate the culmination of the course, I organized a tournament. Despite competing against older, seemingly stronger opponents, Alex emerged victorious, proving that hard work and perseverance always pay off.

I couldn’t be prouder of you, Alex. Your journey—from a shy boy in the UK to a chess champion—is a testament to the confidence and resilience that chess instills in its players. Keep shining and inspiring us all!