First Moves: ages 5–8
Our entry programme teaches piece movement, basic checkmates and simple tactics through short games rather than lectures — the goal at this stage is enthusiasm and comfort with the board, not theory.
Junior Development: ages 8–14
Once a child is comfortable with the rules, Junior Development introduces tactics training, a small opening repertoire, and regular internal rated games. Most children who stay in this group for a full season earn their first official rating during it.
School partnerships
We run after-school chess programmes in partnership with schools across the emirate, using a simplified version of our junior syllabus delivered by club-trained coaches on-site. Schools interested in starting a programme can reach our training department through the contact page.
From the classroom to the Festival
Every youth programme is designed to feed toward the Festival's age-banded Youth sections, giving children a concrete, well-run event to aim for each year rather than an open-ended series of lessons with no milestone.