Chess Republic Academy · Est. Melbourne
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Trial classes now open · Term 2

Where young minds
learn the quiet art
of thinking ahead.

A creative, kid-friendly path from first move to first medal. We teach chess across nine Melbourne suburbs — through stories, structured curriculum, and a warm community of players who push each other to grow.

Book a free trial See our programs
9 Melbourne venues
5 Curriculum levels
2 hrs Free weekly practice
10% Sibling discount
Young chess players holding their certificates after a Chess Republic event
Children with trophies at a Chess Republic tournament
Since 2022 Hundreds of young players coached across Melbourne
Berwick Camberwell Clyde Clyde-North Cranbourne Dandenong Glen Waverley Mulgrave Pakenham Berwick Camberwell Clyde Clyde-North Cranbourne Dandenong Glen Waverley Mulgrave Pakenham
Why parents pick us

Chess, taught the way kids actually learn.

Most clubs sit kids down with a board and hope. We built a real curriculum — five distinct levels, small groups, lots of games against actual humans, and coaches who remember the difference between a rook and a six-year-old having a tough day.

01

Levels by skill, not by age

A nine-year-old who's been playing since kindergarten doesn't belong in the same class as an eleven-year-old who's just starting. We place every student by ability, so every lesson lands at the right level.

02

Two free practice hours, every week

Lessons teach the ideas. Practice nights — open to every enrolled student — are where the ideas get real. Daily practice tournaments mean every kid gets game time on the clock.

03

A real path, not a hobby

Storytelling for first-timers. Pattern drills for the curious. Tournament prep for the serious. The same coaches walk students from their very first move to their first rated win.

Five levels · One academy

From the first piece they pick up
to the first trophy they hold.

Our curriculum is split into five distinct stages. Every student is assessed before they start, and moves up when their coach says they're ready — not on a calendar.

Level 01

New to Chess

An introduction through stories and play. Pieces, rules, and the quiet thrill of your first checkmate.

♙
Level 02

Beginner

Foundational gameplay, opening principles, and the first taste of tactics. Confidence through repetition.

♘
Level 03

Intermediate I

Pattern recognition and tactical thinking. Forks, pins, skewers, and the joy of seeing two moves ahead.

♗
Level 04

Intermediate II

Strategic decision-making and positional play. Why the right square matters more than the right piece.

♖
Level 05

Advanced

Tournament preparation, deep analysis, and serious endgame study. Built for players chasing rating points.

♕
Explore the curriculum
A small group of Chess Republic students after class
Winter holiday tournament
"miss, can we play one more game?"
Our story

We started Chess Republic because good chess teaching shouldn't be a postcode lottery.

The idea was simple. Most kids in Melbourne who wanted to play chess seriously had two options — drive an hour to a city club, or rely on a school program that ran for one term and disappeared. So we built something in between: a proper academy, with a proper curriculum, in the suburbs where families actually live.

Three years on, we're across nine venues, and the kids who showed up at our first ever class are now winning their school championships.

Small groups Cap on every class so coaches know every student.
Real teachers Experienced players who can actually teach — not just play.
Weekly games nights Where students play their classmates, friends, and rivals.
Run by Madu & Chamal Two coaches, one obsession with chess education.
Read our story
Watch chess come alive

Every move tells a story.
This one ends in four.

The Scholar's Mate — chess's most famous quick win. We teach kids to spot it from move two, so their first tournament loss isn't to a sequence anyone with an afternoon could play against them.

Pattern recognition isn't a talent. It's a curriculum. Ours starts here.

4moves to mate
2moves to spot it
1lesson to defend
See the full curriculum
Move — Press play to begin
Upcoming events

Real games. Real clocks.
Real wins.

Every term we run in-house tournaments open to all enrolled students, plus a calendar of friendly inter-branch matches and rated junior events. Game time is where confidence is built.

See the calendar
17May
Term 2 Inter-Branch Open Glen Waverley · All levels welcome
Open
07Jun
Junior Rapid Championship Camberwell · Under 12 / Under 16
Rated
28Jun
Winter Holiday Cup Pakenham · Two-day Swiss event
Camp
19Jul
Beginner-Friendly Friday All venues · First tournament safe space
New
Holiday camps Chess Republic winter holiday camp
School holidays

A whole week of chess, friends, and genuinely fun mornings.

Each school break we run holiday camps designed around games, puzzles, mini-tournaments and creative chess challenges. New friends. Real progress. Parents get a quiet morning.

  • Five mornings of structured chess fun, drop-off available from 8:30am
  • Mixed-level activities so every kid is in the right group at the right time
  • Tournament play, puzzles, blindfold games, simul matches with senior coaches
  • Trophies for everyone who shows up — and bigger ones for the winners
See the next camp
From Google Reviews

Real parents. Real classes. Real reviews.

★★★★★ 5.0 Verified Google Reviews · pulled from the academy's public listing
Read all on Google
come and try a class — we'll bring the boards

Your child's first move is on us.
Book a free trial today.

Pick a venue, pick a time, turn up. We'll do an informal assessment, place your child in the right level, and you'll know within one class whether we're a fit.

Book a free trial Call 0449 930 032