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
16+
Years of
Experience
5K+
Students
9K+
Tournaments
16K+
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

Flora Liu
Oct 2, 2022
Google 5 stars

Vancouver Chess School is an amazing place for chess lovers. My son Ryder has learnt a lot both is summer camps and in group lessons and always had tons of fun. Highly recommended!!!...

HOU LIBERTY
Apr 30, 2022
Google 5 stars

My son started chess classes here from 5 years old. He told me it is a good place to learn chess. Actually, he has made big progress on it. He also said, his coach Uranchmeg is a really awesome tea...

Linda Shen
Jul 1, 2023
Google 5 stars

My son joined Van Chess three years ago and now he is in grade 3. He has learned so much here and has grown from a beginner player to Bishop level already. He loved all his lessons and also playing ch...

Vincent Cui
Apr 25, 2021
Google 5 stars

Vancouver Chess School is an outstanding institution for children’s chess education at any age. I was amazed how VCS team could maintain the tempo during the pandemic and continues to teach chess le...

Isabel R
Apr 22, 2021
Google 5 stars

The Vancouver Chess school took my son’s interest in chess and sparked an obsession. My son used to believe most things are “easy” or he would have difficulty with failures. However, this che...

CC
May 16, 2024
Google 5 stars

Thank you, VCS, for providing the training sessions, invitational, and practice tournaments for the long term support of Canadian Chess Challenge competition. My son had chess lessons with VCS in his ...

Xuan Wang
Feb 26, 2025
Google 5 stars

A very good chess school! Urna is not only a champion but also an instructor who knows how to teach very young children. My daughter is a Kindergartener; she loves to come to the chess classes every S...

J Lo
May 29, 2023
Google 5 stars

Vancouver Chess School has helped my child develop his chess skills and provides a wonderful chess community for all who love chess to grow together in. It organizes many chess events and tournaments ...

Serena Wang
Mar 20, 2023
Google 5 stars

我们强烈推介温哥华象棋学校,孩子在这个机构学习了一年多,进步非常大。 老师尽职尽责,不断激励孩子们坚持每天练习,完成习题,而且在这里...

Sharon Zhang
Mar 16, 2021
Google 5 stars

We have proudly been with Vancouver Chess School since day one and we have always experienced high-quality and productive lessons from all the instructors here. Not only that, but the coaches are alwa...

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...

Carol Cao
Feb 28, 2023
Google 5 stars

This is a fun place to start learning chess. The teacher is patient and experienced. Group classes gather same level players together and are interactive and engaging. There are regular tournaments th...

Tadas Ceponis
Nov 16, 2021
Google 5 stars

The best school to learn chess for any kind of levels!...

Michael Ye
Jan 3, 2021
Google 5 stars

My son has been learning chess in Vancouver Chess School since 2018. He also participated many tournaments organized by the school, off-line and on-line. VCS provides very high-quality and systematic ...

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....

R J
Feb 22, 2024
Google 5 stars

My son Zac really likes VCS programs. It helped him from zero knowledge to a bit obsessed to chess now. I also like the VCS operation system that helps kids to focus on there target and motivate them ...

Nolan Males
Mar 30, 2023
Google 5 stars

It was very fun. I just had my first lesson there, and it was super fun. I am in level one chess, and I really enjoyed it. I would totally do the rest of the levels there. It was super fun and you sho...

Bo Mi Kim
Sep 11, 2024
Google 5 stars

The camp at VCS is an amazing experience for all ages. Whether your child is 5 or 15, there is a variety of opportunities of learning. Completely approve of the camp and believe in its ability to impa...

Andrea Bell
Jul 30, 2023
Google 5 stars

What a school! Coach Gyan showed my son and his three best friends an incredible week of chess. It was the first camp we tried for our sports crazy kids, and all of them could not stop talking about i...

Tony Cheng
Sep 23, 2021
Google 5 stars

Nice coaches and structure arrangement to guide the kids from beginners to experienced chess player. Regular chess competition can promote the interests of the kids to do better. When my boy got highe...

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

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Take the test

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

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Register

Create your student account in our secure platform.

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Try a lesson

Book a free trial class to get started.

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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.

Test icon

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

River Liu

King of the Hill

Queen of the Hill

Lucia Zhao

Queen of the Hill

Fire Streak King

River Liu

Fire Streak King

Fire Streak Queen

Lucia Zhao

Fire Streak Queen

Celebrating students achievements

Echo Fang

Echo Fang has been promoted to Knight level.

Jacob Shi

Jacob Shi has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Shenyou Yang

Shenyou Yang has been promoted to Knight level.

Niko Chen

Niko Chen has been promoted to Bishop level.

Youssef Mahmoud

Youssef Mahmoud has been promoted to Pre-Knight level.

Sophie Zhu

Sophie Zhu has been promoted to Beginners with some knowledge level.

Jianwen Hua

Jianwen Hua has been promoted to Advanced Beginner level.

Charlie Tang

Charlie Tang has been promoted to Pre-Rook level.

Aiden Jin

Aiden Jin has been promoted to Beginners with some knowledge level.

Ryan Li

Ryan Li has been promoted to Bishop level.

Our events

Play. Improve. Repeat.

19Feb
Prime Time Battle

19Feb
Over the Board. Real Battles.

20Feb
Best starting tournament!

21Feb
⭐ Daily Puzzles