Join us in London, Mindsports Centre for a transformative weekend on October 11-12, dedicated to exploring chess as a powerful educational tool. Whether you’re already teaching chess or simply curious about its potential, this event offers fresh strategies and practical resources to enrich your teaching practice and engage students in new ways. No prior chess experience is required – just a passion for helping children learn and grow. The event is funded by FIDE and the International Olympic Committee, underscoring its global significance and commitment to educational excellence.
Organised in collaboration with the FIDE Chess in Education Commission and the ECU Education Commission, the weekend will bring together teachers, tutors, and education specialists to discover how chess can foster lifelong skills. Through a series of interactive Masterclasses, participants will gain hands-on tools and insights that can be immediately applied in the classroom. You’ll also receive a booklet on all Masterclass materials and enjoy opportunities to connect with fellow educators over lunch and refreshments, which are included with your ticket.With only 60 places available on a first-come, first-served basis, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the best and bring the benefits of chess into your educational practice.
Book your tickets HERE.
Meet the presenters:
Jerry Nash
Jerry (BA, MDiv, MA) serves as Chairman of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission and as National Chess Education Consultant for Chess in Education – US, a US-based non-profit focused on enabling educators to use chess as an educational tool in the classroom. He is also an educator who believes in the power of chess to enable student – and teacher – success.
Jerry will lead the interactive workshop Chess for Critical Thinking Development, introducing practical examples of using chess to build Higher Order Thinking (HOT) skills.
Rita Atkins
Rita serves as Secretary of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission. She holds a degree in Mathematics and Physics as well as a Diploma of Education from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, and an MSc in Computing Science from Imperial College, London. She has taught mathematics and physics in the UK and in Ireland for over a decade. As a former competitive chess player, Rita strongly believes that chess is a great educational tool, and she is a frequent speaker at chess educational conferences. She is the co-creator of LogiqBoard, the online shareable chessboard suitable for classroom use.
Rita will explore Problems on the Chessboard for Gifted and Talented Studentsin her masterclass.
Anzel Laubscher
Anzel Laubscher is a FIDE Senior Lead Instructor, main lecturer for FIDE EDU courses, and a member of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission. She is a Woman International Master, South African National Team member since 1998, and a Master Coach. With sixteen years’ curriculum development and lecturing at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Anzel has overseen coach training for the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee. She is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, legal advisor, mediator, and active in sports dispute resolution.
In her masterclasses Anzel will guide attendees through From Classroom Chess to Chess Club the Educational Way.
Alla Khachatryan
Alla is Senior Course Administrator for all FIDE EDU training courses. She is also a FIDE Lead School Instructor with a strong commitment to chess education and expertise in training educators on how to teach the game and use it for skill development. She has contributed to international and national conferences, led educational projects, and promoted chess in education through research-based initiatives in her native Armenia.
Passionate about helping teachers discover new ways to engage students in the classroom, she will present How to Teach Chess Basics Effectively in the Classroomin London.
John Foley
John is Director of ChessPlus (UK) and an active member of the ECU Education Commission, where he co-authors teacher training courses such as The SMART Method to Teach Chess and Mathematics through Chess. He is President of Kingston Chess Club and formerly served as Training Director at Chess in Schools and Communities. His career includes consultancy, research analysis, and legal work, with degrees from Oxford and Lancaster Universities. Foley’s publications include Checkmate! The Wonderful World of Chess (2023), and several co-authored resources for chess education.
Brigitta Peszleg
Brigitta is a dedicated chess educator who began her journey in education in 2006 after earning a degree in Education Sciences. Since 2015, she has taught chess in primary schools across London through Chess in Schools and Communities. Her roles include Chess Educator, Training and Event Manager at ChessPlus, Teacher Trainer with ChessPlus and the European Chess Union (ECU), and Secretary of the ECU Education Commission. Brigitta leads training initiatives, develops educational resources, and co-authored the Chess and Strategy Games in the Classroom Programme, training teachers throughout the UK.
Brigitta and John will present Chess and Strategy Games in the Classroom (Games from the ECU107 Training course).
Hari Neocleous
Hariis a primary maths and chess teacher from London with over 20 years of experience in education. In her classes, she demonstrates how chess serves as a powerful pedagogical tool, offering rich opportunities to cultivate problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and learner confidence. Drawing on her extensive classroom experience, Hari brings a unique perspective to LogiqBoard as well. She integrates chess into creative math and logic-based activities, showcasing innovative approaches to both chess instruction and mathematical thinking.
Hari will demonstrate Teaching Mathematics through Chess (Maths tasks from the ECU102 Training course).
Daniel Gormally
Daniel Gormally is a Chess Grandmaster residing in Alnwick, Northumberland. He received the Grandmaster title in 2005 and represented England at the European team championships that year.In 2024, he won both the British rapid play championship and the English blitz championship.At age 49, Daniel continues to participate actively in international tournaments. He has authored several chess books, such as “Mating the Castled King” and an autobiographical work titled “A Year in the Chess World.”Daniel also served as an official commentator at the British championships in Liverpool, alongside Nicholas Pert.
In London Danielwill share techniques for Optimising Strategies for Chess Minigames