What Is Mindful Chess
Mindful Chess has been helping learners of all ages and skill levels enjoy and improve at chess since 2015. Founded by Jake Fishman, we offer after-school clubs, in-school programs, and private online lessons. Today, we work with over 500 students every week across Greater London and connect with learners worldwide through our online coaching.
At Mindful Chess, we tailor lessons to match your strengths, learning style, and interests. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, we adapt our approach to ensure lessons are engaging and effective. Whether you’re just starting to play or working to further your skills and knowledge, our personalised teaching fast tracks your progress.
Jake Fishman, Founder of Mindful chess
How It All Started
1. A Passion for Chess
Jake Fishman, the founder of Mindful Chess, fell in love with the game as a kid, fascinated by its mix of strategy and endless possibilities. His coaching journey began while living in Hong Kong in 2014, where he worked with Scholastic Chess, the region’s top chess school. During his time there, Jake refined his approach to teaching and saw how chess can help students think critically, solve problems creatively, and build resilience — skills that go far beyond the chessboard.
2. The Birth of Mindful Chess
When Jake returned to the UK, he set out to create a chess program that broke away from the rigid, traditional methods. He wanted a program that focused on each student’s unique strengths and learning style. Starting with just 12 students in an after-school club, Jake launched Mindful Chess with a simple idea: to make chess fun, personal and empowering for every learner.
3. Growth and Success
What started as a small after-school club has grown into a vibrant program, fueled by the enthusiasm of students, parents, and schools. To meet this growing demand, we’ve built a team of skilled coaches who deliver lessons that are tailored to challenge and inspire learners of all ages. Through online private lessons, we’ve expanded worldwide, teaching students on three continents, from young beginners at 5 to lifelong enthusiasts at 94.
Our success isn’t just measured in numbers but in the positive impact we’ve seen in our students’ confidence, problem-solving skills, and enjoyment of chess.
What Is Our Mission?
At Mindful Chess, our mission is to create a supportive and engaging environment where everyone — whether young or old, beginner or advanced — can discover the joy and benefits of chess. We aim to:
Help students develop not just their chess skills, but also critical life skills such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and patience.
Build a global community of chess enthusiasts who learn from and inspire one another.
Make high-quality chess education accessible by offering personalised coaching that meets the needs of every learner, regardless of their experience level.
Ultimately, we’re driven by a belief that chess is more than just a game — it’s a tool for growth, connection, and lifelong learning.
Principles of Our Chess Coaches
At Mindful Chess, we carefully select our coaches to ensure they align with our values and approach to teaching. Over the past 5 years we've had over 1200 coaches apply to teach with us. We have conducted hundreds of interviews to find the individuals that make the greatest teachers.
Here’s what we look for in our coaches:
01
Adaptability
Coaches must be able to adapt their teaching methods to suit each student’s individual needs, whether working with a beginner or an advanced player.
02
Patience and empathy
We prioritise coaches who are kind, patient, and skilled at creating a positive learning environment where students feel encouraged to grow.
03
Engagement and creativity
Our coaches bring energy and creativity to their lessons, making chess both fun and intellectually stimulating.
04
Commitment to lifelong learning
Just as we encourage our students to improve, our coaches continually improve their own skills to stay sharp and deliver the best possible teaching.
05
Mentorship and Motivational Abilities
Beyond teaching skills, a great coach mentors students in building confidence, discipline, and resilience both on and off the chessboard.
Our Coaches
Chess coach
Krysia Forbes
"Coaching chess is a recent venture for me, as I’ve been playing for the last seven years. With a background in primary education and a passion for both chess and working with children, I was inspired to start coaching as a way to blend my teaching skills with my love for the game."
Chess coach
Hannah Beach
"I visited a prison to coach chess and realised how fulfilling it was, not just to play with people as keen on chess as me, but to play against people so in need of any kind of social interaction. It made me realise the beauty in sitting with someone, having something shared to concentrate on."
