Vancouver Chess School
Chess background

In-Person & Online Chess Classes and Tournaments,
Trusted by World Champions!

Vancouver Chess School has guided over 5,000 juniors to success — including 3 World Champions, FIDE Masters, and countless national & provincial champions — through our proven 12-level program, expert coaching, and exciting tournaments. Starting at $100 CAD/month.

What are our superpowers?

3
World
Champions
Titles
3
FIDE masters
17+
Years of
Experience
5K+
Students
9K+
Tournaments
17K+
Lessons
170+
Five-star
Reviews

Our Stars & Stories

🎖️ Levy Rozman Receives the VCS Signature Medal of Honour

Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, sends his best wishes to all Vancouver Chess School students and shares his hope to visit Vancouver one day.

Karson Lu 👑 Crowned U7 FIDE Rapid World School Champion 2024!

Huge congratulations to Karson Lu on his incredible victory at the U7 FIDE Rapid World School Championship 2024 in Callao, Lima, Peru! 🏆 A remarkable achievement that brings pride to Vancouver Chess School and inspiration to all our juniors.

Hikaru Nakamura’s Legendary Visit to VCS! ✨

During a special training session, Hikaru Nakamura surprised our Team BC and Sunday Chess Club students! He played blitz, signed autographs, posed for selfies, and was awarded the very first VCS Signature Gold Medal — now officially named the Hikaru Nakamura Medal 🥇. A truly unforgettable day for all our young players!

Elliot McCallum Wins Gold at the FIDE World School Championships 2023! 🥇

Huge congratulations to our Grade 1 Provincial Champion, Elliot McCallum, on his sensational victory in the U7 category at the FIDE World School Championships 2023 in Rhodes, Greece (April 13–23). A proud moment for Elliot, VCS, and the entire Canadian chess community!

Elliot McCallum Presents VCS Signature Medal to Super GM Wesley So 🌟

At the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship, 9-year-old Elliot McCallum proudly awarded the VCS Signature Medal to Super GM Wesley So, celebrating his brilliance, sportsmanship, and inspiration to young players worldwide. A powerful symbol of respect across generations — from a rising talent to a living legend. 🙌♟️

Zhu Chen, 9th Women's World Chess Champion, Supports VCS.

We are proud to have the long-time support of Zhu Chen, the 9th Women's World Chess Champion. Over the years, we've exchanged ideas, class materials, and curriculum with her, strengthening our mission to provide world-class chess education. In this video Zhu Chen wishes all the best to the students and parents of Vancouver Chess School in their chess journey. 

Our 3 pillars of excellence

Proven 12-Level Curriculum

Our structured program ensures that every student - beginner to advanced - follows a clear path to mastery. Each level builds on the last, developing logic, tactics and strategic thinking.

Curriculum illustration

World-Class student success

We've taught over 5,000 students, with multiple National & Regional Champions - and 3 World Champions and 3 FIDE Masters trained at our school. Your child joins a winning tradition.

Student success illustration

Innovative Chess platform & Games

Our Chess heroes platform offers interactive lessons, challenges and rewards, on a state of the art custom-built platform, designed to engage and motivate young learners.

Chess platform illustration

What parents are saying

Mike Zhu
Apr 5, 2023
Google 5 stars

We settled in Vancouver last year, and since our child has experienced in China for 6 years, we hope to continue his interest in Vancouver. We are grateful to VCS for their weekly chess classes and fr...

Tran Vinh
Apr 6, 2023
Google 5 stars

Our children began learning at Vancouver Chess School around six months ago. Their remarkable progress in chess is all thanks to the outstanding coaching and education provided by the school. Recently...

adanLOLt
Nov 6, 2024
Google 5 stars

Coaches are nice and friendly and they help out whenever we need it....

Wendy Yuan
Apr 20, 2023
Google 5 stars

Our son has spent his last two years in VCS. It is first time we’ve seen our son become so dedicated and passionate about something. We can tell he loves chess and he is improving himself on all asp...

Grace Liu
Oct 14, 2022
Google 5 stars

My son has been attending Vanchess for half a year now. It has been a great learning experience and his skills improved very much. His instructor Gyan is professional, kind, encouraging and patient. ...

Cal
Sep 3, 2024
Google 5 stars

My son just completed a chess camp at VCS and had a great experience. He was really pleased with the way the camp was run and noted how enthusiastic Gyan and the other instructors were in maximizing t...

Ellenw121
Aug 7, 2024
Google 5 stars

Vancouver chess school offers the chess expertise and flexible class schedule both online and in person classes. My son enjoys her chess mates time very much and recommend to whom you may just start u...

Jie Chen
Jun 30, 2023
Google 5 stars

The best chess school in Vancouver....

Vania Cheng
May 16, 2021
Google 5 stars

Vancouver Chess School is a really well run chess school, with kind and dedicated coaches. It teaches students from complete beginners to much higher levels. VCS has made a seamless transition to teac...

Cat Queen
Feb 17, 2022
Google 5 stars

My daughter has been taking chess lessons with VCS for two years now. After trying out different activities, chess is the only one that she's enjoyed and kept going. The coaches are amazing and patien...

Peter Lei
May 3, 2024
Google 5 stars

This school has helped me a lot with my chess journey, starting at pawn level, I mean what I say below genuinely. Staff: The backbone of the institution, the staff and coaches are friendly, genuine, ...

Khangmin Lee
Mar 15, 2021
Google 5 stars

Vancouver Chess School has given my 2 kids a fun, intellectual and safe space to hang out with other like-minded children. They have very competent and experienced instructors. Both their in-person (p...

Mandy Cordingley
Feb 24, 2024
Google 5 stars

All the teachers are very talented and patient with kids. My kid excels at this school very fast. There are online and in person classes and tournaments that can accommodate everyone. I highly recomme...

Sher
May 22, 2023
Google 5 stars

As a volunteer assistant coach of the chess camps, I felt the genuine trust and support from the teachers! The instructors gave every assistant coach some time every camp to teach the class some conce...

Lian Bo
Jun 17, 2022
Google 5 stars

Friendly and helpful teachers. They organized many tournament for different level chess players. Helped my kid improve chess skills!...

Crystal
Jun 3, 2020
Google 5 stars

In Vancouver Chess School, there has a complete and systematic chess education system, rich and interesting practice resources, and tournaments for all levels players weekly and monthly. Most importan...

Eugenia Jacobs
Feb 23, 2022
Google 5 stars

The best school ever! My daughter loves her chess classes about 3 years! Thanks for teacher ...

lisa y
Jul 10, 2022
Google 5 stars

Our kid really enjoyed the chess classes. The classes/activities are well structured and the coaches are patient....

Peter Chan
May 14, 2021
Google 5 stars

VCS is a great place. The teachers are very patients and caring. My son learned a lot and chess skills and made lots of friends....

Holly
Sep 17, 2023
Google 5 stars

I can't express enough how much I appreciate Vancouver Chess School (VCS) for their incredible contributions to my son's chess journey. VCS stands out as the finest and most prestigious chess school i...

All reviews

5 stars

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Explore our programs for every
young chess player

Group Lessons

Group Lessons

Small groups led by experienced coaches. Kids progress through our 12-Level curriculum with games, fun homework, and teamwork.

Join a Group lesson
Private Lessons

Private Lessons

One-on-one coaching tailored to your child's strengths. Get rapid progress and personalized attention at every step.

Book a Private lesson
Tournaments

Tournaments

From beginners to national contenders - our rated events help kids sharpen skills and boost confidence in a fun, supportive setting.

Join a Tournament

Start your chess journey
in 4 easy steps

Test icon

Take the test

Find your child's level with our free online assessment.

Register icon

Register

Create your student account in our secure platform.

Lesson icon

Try a lesson

Book a free trial class to get started.

Enjoy icon

Enjoy!

Watch your child grow in confidence
and skill.

Our Unique Chess Learning Methodology:
A Pathway to Mastery

At Chess Heroes Academy, we believe every child learns best when they're challenged and inspired. That's why we built a 12-level system tailored to their unique pace - whether they're just starting or already making brilliant moves.

Assessment

Not sure which program
is right for you?

Take our quick free online test

Take the test

Our level system

Absolute
Beginner
Beginner
Advanced
Beginner
Pre-Knigt
Knight
Pre-Bishop
Bishop
Pre-Rook
Rook
Pre-Queen
Queen
King
Chess teaches

What chess teaches your child -
on and off the board

Test icon

Take the test

Find your child's level with our free online assessment.

Test icon

Focus, memory & concentration

By remembering strategies and analyzing opponents, kids sharpen focus and build memory - essential for school success.

Test icon

Academic performance

Studies show chess improves math, reading, logic, and critical thinking - all leading to stronger academic outcomes.

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Confident decision - making

In chess, kids learn to assess risks and make choices under pressure - building judgment they'll use far beyond the board.

Where Play Builds Real Skills

Chess Heroes is more than a game —
it's a powerful learning tool.
Through fun challenges, quests, and battles, students sharpen their critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills — all while staying engaged and motivated.
With unlimited practice in tactics, positional play, and endgames, every move helps them grow — both as chess players and thinkers.
A smart, safe, and enriching way for kids to build real skills while having fun.
Your Strength, Your Journey –
Make It Legendary

Top performers

Celebrating the achievements of our rising stars - students who've stood out in recent tournaments and events.

King of the Hill

Catherine Zhang

King of the Hill

Queen of the Hill

Sara Tang

Queen of the Hill

Fire Streak King

Keon Ghorbanirtad

Fire Streak King

Fire Streak Queen

Catherine Zhang

Fire Streak Queen

Celebrating students achievements

Karl Aguirre

Karl Aguirre has been promoted to Rook level.

Charlie Tang

Charlie Tang has been promoted to Rook level.

Echo Fang

Echo Fang has been promoted to Bishop level.

Tamen Abbaspour

Tamen Abbaspour has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Yaroslav Nyshpor

Yaroslav Nyshpor has been promoted to Pre-Rook level.

Shenyou Yang

Shenyou Yang has been promoted to Pre-Bishop level.

Timur Uygun

Timur Uygun has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Kevin Lian

Kevin Lian has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Carlyle Shu

Carlyle Shu has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Amirali Abedi

Amirali Abedi has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Our events

Build Confidence Weekly!

05May
Play. Improve. Repeat.

07May
Prime Time Battle

07May
Over the Board. Real Battles.

08May
Best starting tournament!

09May
⭐ Daily Puzzles