My Life As A Chess Coach

"The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” – Benjamin Franklin

_{Image designed using canva}

Playing the game of chess can be difficult sometimes, let alone teaching the game of chess. In this post,I shall give you an insight into my life as a chess coach.

HOW IT STARTED
When I take a look at the clock, I realize how time flies. Wow! I have been coaching chess for 5 years now!. I was 16 when I got admission into the university, I guess that was when life truly started for me. I had to do something to earn while living in school. Although, I was fortunate to be in the university school team which meant i got some benefits like a FREE ACCOMMODATION and Some ALLOWANCES during competition periods but yet just like every Nigerian university, schooling was way expensive and I needed a back up plan!

Thank God For chess!

A quick look at my Hive bio you would see this

Most of my Life is Centred Around the 64 Squared Board Game "CHESS".

I knew chess since i was 11 years,i went professional quickly, playing few junior tournaments and winning alot then.

But How then Did I Get My First Coaching Job?

_{An Image of me in 2016}

I was 16 without a single beard strand, and i looked like a short kid. I knew nobody in the university of port Harcourt. My coach was never around. After dropping me in the university sports hostel, I barely saw him. So what then did I do? Well, I started preaching the gospel of chess. I started teaching students for free. I did that till I got a call from someone saying

I heard you can play chess, I teach in a school closeby and I am looking for someone to assist me! Are you interested?

Boom! That's how I got my First Chess Coaching Job!

CHALLENGES & DECISIONS
I started teaching in Spring Valley Secondary school two weeks after the call. At first, I was nervous and scared as there wasn't much age differences between the kids i was teaching and myself. Chess was something i had so much passion for so I didn't take too long to get carried away in the job,my nervousness disappeared, All I saw was connecting the students to the chess board which i think i did pretty well.

_{My first organized tournament in spring Valley}

I taught in spring Valley school for two years and was part of so many great moments with the school. I did produce some very good chess kids which till date makes me happy. I quited because I finally had to play a competition for my university which lasted for more than two weeks. It was the Nigerian University Games and I knew i had to prepare and train with the team, i needed more time as I already took more time to study for the classes i was missing. Studying a Science course made it extremely difficult! But looking back now, I'm glad it played out well for me. I graduated with a good result and I also won Gold and bronze medals for my university. Isn't that God?

BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL COACH

I graduated in the last quarter of 2019, Unfortunately for me,that was when Covid strucked our world, I couldn't collect my certificate as schools were immediately shut down and our lives were paused. Planning to go back home to stay with my parents. I got Another Call! This time, from a friend of mine who is also an International Master of chess in Nigeria.

_{International Master Anwuli Daniel & @samostically}

He told me he was planning to set up a chess academy and wants me to be part of it,He spoke to my parents and they left me in his care during the covid period in 2020.

Online coaching was one of the main highlights of the covid period, A lot of activities went on remotely from the comfort of the house. Teaching Chess wasn't excluded as my friend taught me how to coach kids online using Skype and other live platforms. I could only learn as i didn't have a PC of my own. He did the coaching. I only dreamed of life after covid,how i would teach chess under a big profile Name as his.

Dreams come true

Schools Opened And The Academy Started!

That's how I started working for Danhyprochessacademy from 2020 till now, Teaching chess has been fun and exciting for me.

I get very nice income to take care of myself from job and it is one i enjoy doing. I don't teach everyday as we have a team. I teach like twice in a week. I took a break this week as I'm a bit under the weather.

I keep spreading my chess gospel everywhere, And hive isn't excluded as a lot of people know me as that Chess guy hahahahaha. Chess has great benefits and in my last post in this community I wrote about some.

Is Playing Chess The Ultimate Proof Of Brain?

It is indeed a funny titled header but I just wanted to put it out there.

In Conclusion...

I love playing chess and I also love teaching chess. Not just to kids,but anyone that shows passion and willingness to learn.

Do You Love Chess And Can Play?

Join us in the Chess Community, We play via https://lichess.org on fridays hosted by @stayoutoftherz and on Saturdays a themed or random position tournament by @schamangerbert.

♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟

The Images used in this article are mine. Permission has been taken to use image that shows dual persons. Designs were done using canva

Thanks For Reading!