What this Mumbai class is
ChessWize is a live online chess class for children aged 5–15, offered to families in Mumbai. A named coach teaches on a video call and shared digital board; this is not an in-person branch.
ChessWize is online only and has no local centre in Mumbai.
Who the format fits
It fits families with a beginner through a rated player who can keep a recurring IST time agreed after the level check, want a group capped at six or a one-to-one lesson, and want one regular coach. It does not fit a family that needs a walk-in classroom in Mumbai.
A steady coach and a clear plan for your Mumbai child
Mumbai families know the trade-off well: the junior chess scene in Maharashtra is deep and competitive, but a midweek class across the Western, Central or Harbour Line is hard to sustain through a school year. ChessWize runs live online sessions instead, so your child keeps a fixed experienced coach and you keep your evenings without a rush after school.
Every child is placed in a skill-matched batch of 4-6 students, or works privately in our 1:1 Analyst Protocol. The ladder runs from beginner groups to intermediate, advanced, rating-improvement and tournament-prep levels, so there is a defined next step whether your child is learning how the pieces move or preparing for a Maharashtra junior event.
You should not be left guessing whether any of it is working. A parent from Mumbai told us: "We signed up for chess. The biggest shift for Ishita was learning to control her emotions on her own. Month one was all about learning to lose without falling apart." That kind of change shows up in the weekly WhatsApp report every student receives, not only at the board on tournament day.
We back the setup with simple commitments: same coach every session, no rotation; a complimentary 30-min level check before you commit; and a 48-hour refund window on monthly plans. Book the free demo, watch the coach teach your child, and decide from what you see.
Chess in Mumbai: two district bodies and a junior championship
Mumbai parents have two district association names to keep separate: Mumbai City & District Chess Association and Mumbai Suburban District Chess Association both appear in MCA's directory. The Free Press Journal, citing MCA, reported that the Asian Junior Chess Championships 2026 would be held in Mumbai from 16 to 26 August, with 157 players from 10 countries. The AICF invitation circular named ITC Maratha as the venue. Closer to school age, chess-results recorded an Under 14 section of the Mumbai Chess Championship at Bhandup, last updated on 19 February 2026, and an Under 08 Boys section of the Dream Sports MSSA Inter School Chess Tournament 2025-26.
Who runs junior chess here
Events a child from Mumbai can enter
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Asian Junior Chess Championships 2026
Reported for 16 to 26 August 2026 · ITC Maratha, Mumbai
The Free Press Journal, citing MCA, reported 157 players from 10 countries for the Mumbai edition. Ask MCA about later championships rather than planning around those August dates. [6][7]
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Mumbai Chess Championship - Bhandup 2026 Under 14
Listing last updated 19 February 2026 · Bhandup, Mumbai
The Under 14 section provides a neighbourhood-specific tournament record. Ask the organiser about later Bhandup sections instead of relying on that 2026 listing. [2]
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Dream Sports MSSA Inter School Chess Tournament 2025-26 Under 08 Boys
2025-26 · Mumbai
This interschool Under 08 Boys listing gives parents of younger children an event name to discuss with the school sports teacher. [3]
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All India Chess Masters Mumbai Classical Chess Tournament 2026
MCA calendar listed 23-28 May 2026 · Mumbai
MCA's 2026 calendar listed this classical tournament in Mumbai. Ask the organiser whether a junior may enter a later edition. [8]
Where to play
- ITC Maratha. The AICF invitation circular for the Asian Junior and Girls Championships 2026 states the venue is ITC Maratha in Mumbai, Maharashtra. [7]
Players from Mumbai
From online class to a first tournament
- Ask which district applies to your child's entry before approaching the Mumbai City or Mumbai Suburban association.
- For school participation, raise the MSSA interschool event with the sports teacher and request the relevant age-section notice.
- Treat the August 2026 Asian Junior dates and the Bhandup Under 14 listing as past records, and ask MCA or the relevant district association for later notices.
- Use online practice to work on thinking time, then play practice games with a board and clock before attending.
Good to know
- The Bhandup Under 14 start list includes Pawar Public School Bhandup as a school affiliation, not as a public club.
Sources (checked 2026-09-28)
- [1] MCA Affiliates – MCA
- [2] Chess-results page for the Mumbai Chess Championship Bhandup 2026 Under 14
- [3] Chess-results page for the Dream Sports MSSA Inter School Chess Tournament 2025-26 Under 08 Boys
- [4] Media kit for an Indian grandmaster based in Mumbai
- [5] Encyclopaedia biography of a Mumbai-born grandmaster
- [6] Free Press Journal report on the 2026 Asian Junior Chess Championships in Mumbai
- [7] AICF invitation circular for the Asian Junior and Girls Chess Championships 2026
- [8] Chess Calendar – MCA
Class times for Mumbai
All class times run on India Standard Time (IST), which has no daylight saving, so the windows stay fixed all year: 9:30 AM-1:30 PM IST, 10:30 AM-2:30 PM IST, 11:30 AM-2:30 PM IST, 11:30 AM-3:30 PM IST, 12:30-5:30 PM IST, 1:30-4:30 PM IST, 2:30-5:30 PM IST, 4:30-9:30 PM IST, 4:30-6:30 PM IST, and 5:30-8:30 PM IST. These are coach availability windows (IST), so a Mumbai family can hold a steady after-school slot without seasonal shifts.
Published weekly schedule in Indian Standard Time (Asia/Kolkata), as of 2026-09-05
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Window | Family time | Coach time |
|---|---|---|
| Family-agreed weekly class | Recurring time agreed after the level check (IST) | The same IST appointment for the family and coach |
What Mumbai parents pay
Regular classes run from ₹375 to ₹1,000 per live class. The starter pack is ₹2,500 for 8 classes.
Prices are the INR list recorded in the pricing source as of 2026-09-29; unused sessions follow the published Refund policy.
Read the full courses and fees page →The coaching roster parents can check
No coach is assigned to Mumbai merely because this is a city page. These are the national roster details published in the coaching data; the demo confirms the actual match for a child.
Hrdyansh Pandey
Ages 5–15 · Foundation, tactical, and tournament-prep tracks
Languages: English, Hindi
Tarun Gupta
All ages · Curriculum design + senior cohort coaching
Languages: English, Hindi
Aryan Pal
Ages 5–10 · Beginner foundations
Languages: English, Hindi
What the curriculum covers
Four phases: learn the board and legal moves; finish a complete game; use opening principles; find basic tactics and endings.
Recorded programme results
As of 2026-07-13, the trust record lists 1,000 students coached and 1,500 parents, with 4 district finishers in a cohort of 12 and an average of 4 months to a first tournament. These are past records, not a promise for one child.
How classes run
Your child keeps the same coach in a supervised small group, and a parent can sit in on any lesson. Read the full policy on the child safety page.
At home you need a laptop or tablet with a webcam and stable internet. Classes run in the browser. Setup details are on the online chess classes page.
The first meeting is a free 30-minute level check. Paid classes start only after you enrol and agree a recurring time.
The four published commitments
- Same coach every session — no rotation
- Full refund within 48 hours of enrolling on a monthly plan
- Complimentary 30-min level check before you commit
- Weekly WhatsApp report for every student
Refund wording is on the refund policy.
Eleven checks to make before enrolling
Each answer below is tied to the section that carries its proof, so a parent can verify the detail rather than rely on a slogan.
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Check 1
Who teaches my child, and are they rated?
Your child is taught by coaches including Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta and Aryan Pal. The same coach stays with your child every session, so the coach knows your child's games and gaps in detail.
See coaches -
Check 2
How many children share the coach?
Group batches are strictly 4-6 similarly-rated students, matched by skill so peer play stays genuine and every child gets coach attention. If you prefer full attention, the 1:1 Analyst Protocol gives your child a private session built entirely around their own games.
See class size -
Check 3
Is there a real curriculum from beginner to rated play?
Yes. There is a defined ladder from beginner through intermediate and advanced to rating-improvement and tournament-prep, with age tracks for 5-8, 9-12 and 13-15. Each level has a written roadmap, from learning legal moves and finishing a complete game to building a repertoire and converting training into events.
See the curriculum -
Check 4
How will I know it is working?
You receive a weekly WhatsApp report for every student, so you can see what was covered and how your child is progressing without attending a class. Progress also shows in play: steadier calculation, fewer avoidable losses, and results in Maharashtra junior events when your child enters them.
See progress reports -
Check 5
Is it safe, and can I see the classes?
Classes are live online sessions with a coach present throughout, and you can see what is taught through the weekly WhatsApp report. Your child learns from home, so there is no travel or venue handover, and you always know which coach is in the session.
Read safety policy -
Check 6
Can we try before paying?
Yes. Book a complimentary 30-min demo with no card or UPI required, and your child also gets a complimentary 30-min level check before you commit. You can watch how the coach teaches and see the fit before any payment is discussed.
See the level check -
Check 7
What if we stop?
On a Mumbai monthly plan, a full refund is available within 48 hours of enrolling, then a pro-rated refund minus sessions attended until the 3rd session, after which the current month is not refunded though cancelling stops later billing. Term packages add a 7-day pro-rated refund from enrolling that you can raise through the WhatsApp channel you already use, and an approved refund reaches the original payment method within 7-10 business days.
See refund terms -
Check 8
Will the timings fit our week?
Coach availability windows run across the day in IST, from morning slots like 9:30 AM-1:30 PM IST through after-school windows like 4:30-9:30 PM IST and 5:30-8:30 PM IST. Because IST has no daylight saving, the slot you fix stays fixed, which makes a school-year routine realistic.
See class times -
Check 9
What does it cost, exactly?
The starter pack is ₹2,500 for 8 classes. Regular plans after the starter pack run from ₹375 to ₹1,000 per class depending on the plan. These are two separate things, and we state both plainly before you enrol.
See fees -
Check 10
Is there a path to tournaments?
A tournament-prep track rehearses event conditions for Maharashtra junior and school events. Mumbai City & District Chess Association and Mumbai Suburban District Chess Association are the Maharashtra Chess Association affiliates here. Ask those bodies about later junior notices, and check the chosen event's requirements. On average, students in Mumbai reach a first tournament in about four months.
See results -
Check 11
What do I have to do at home?
Little. Short, focused practice works best: a few minutes of puzzles or one saved game with a question for the coach. At home, casual family games help when adults avoid correcting every move. The coach sets homework matched to errors from the last class, so you are guiding, not teaching.
See home setup
Watch family videos
Poster, title, speaker, and a one-line summary from the testimonial record. Each card links to its review page.
See every class, not just the fee
Every ChessWize class runs on ChessCore, so you always know what your child is learning.
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Your own parent dashboard
A private page for each child: next class, attendance, homework and progress, in one place.
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Progress you can read
Puzzle accuracy and a rating trend once your child has played enough games, explained in plain words.
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Notes from the coach
After classes the coach shares what your child worked on and what to practise next.
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Attendance and makeups
Every class is logged. If your child misses one, you can see the makeup credit and book it yourself.
No screen recording, keystroke logging or device-location access · classes recorded only with your consent. How we handle your child’s data →
Written reviews from parents
Two parent reviews for this page, with a Mumbai-tagged record first when the source has one.
★★★★★
The resilience piece was unexpected — and the real win.
“We signed up for chess. What Ishita got was emotional self-regulation. Month one was all about learning to lose without falling apart. By month three she was analysing her own games after tournaments, pointing out where she'd blundered, calmly. Her results followed. But honestly, the composure is what I'll remember.”
Anjana Rao
Mother of Ishita (10) · Mumbai
January 2026
★★★★★
Honestly, I was skeptical about online chess coaching.
“Aadvik hated sitting still for anything, and I thought a Zoom class would last two weeks max. It's been six months. Last Sunday his class teacher called just to ask what changed — his attention in maths has jumped. He now does his puzzles before I'm up. Coach Arjun has the patience I don't.”
Rupali Sharma
Mother of Aadvik (9) · Lucknow
March 2026
Google reviews from ChessWize parents
Google rating 5.0 from 21 reviews; the stored set was pulled 2026-07-08.
Ayushi
June 2026
★★★★★
We are very happy with the coaching at Chesswize, especially with our son’s teacher, Ankit Rajoriya. Ankit sir is a wonderful coach especially for younger kids.He knows the game deeply but also teaches with patience, encouragement, and real passion. He explains ideas in a clear and easy way, so children can understand and use them in their games. His classes are well-planned, fun, and motivating. Since our son started learning with Ankit sir, we have seen big improvements in his chess skills, thinking ability, focus, and confidence. He creates a friendly environment where kids feel comfortable asking questions and are inspired to keep getting better. We truly value his dedication and care for each student. We strongly recommend Chesswize and Ankit Rajoriya sir to any parent who wants quality chess coaching for their child.
Read on Google →Harshi
July 2026
★★★★★
We had been searching for a chess class online for our sons. Suddenly on instagram , we saw the ad for chesswize and connected with the them. The demo was really good and we started the classes for our almost 4.7 year old son. Ankit Rajoriya Sir engaged him really well , he very knowlegeble in his field. His classes are well structured and he teaches the concepts in simple and engaging manner. My son has started loving chess and has started applying the strategies. The environment of the class is really positive where kids feel safe asking questions and their queries are answered well. We truly appreciate his professionalism, dedication, and commitment towards his students. We highly recommend Chesswize and Ankit Rajoriya Sir to any parent looking for chess classes for their kids.
Read on Google →20EC101 Raghvendra
November 2025
★★★★★
ChessWize is a great platform for improving chess skills—clean interface, smart puzzles, and very helpful analysis.
Read on Google →Why the online format fits Mumbai
Mumbai sits at the centre of a busy year-round tournament scene for juniors in Maharashtra.
Mumbai's distances and traffic make fixed-time offline classes hard to sustain through a school year. Live online sessions fit around your child's timetable and still deliver a real coach watching every game.
Local chess context
With a deep and competitive Maharashtra junior circuit, personalised feedback and a planned opening repertoire help a Mumbai child convert practice into tournament results.
When school is in the suburbs and a parent works in the island city — or the reverse — midweek travel for chess often collapses. Online training keeps a steady coach while your child still enters Maharashtra junior events on weekends.
Online and offline choices
Mumbai's offline chess scene is deep, and a strong local batch with peers nearby can be excellent if the commute is short and reliable. Online wins for long Western/Central/Harbour Line hauls, late school ends, or parents who need a fixed coach without depending on one neighbourhood address. Many keep OTB events local and lessons on screen.
See class details, fees and safety information below.
Questions from parents in Mumbai
Which Mumbai association should I approach for my child?
MCA's directory has separate entries for Mumbai City & District Chess Association and Mumbai Suburban District Chess Association. Use those entries to ask which district applies to your child's entry. Check the tournament notice as well, so you establish the right association and eligibility conditions before submitting any registration.
Do the junior event lists show participation from Mumbai schools?
The Bhandup 2026 Under 14 start list includes Pawar Public School Bhandup. For younger children, the Dream Sports MSSA Under 08 Boys list for 2025-26 includes Jamnabai Narsee School, Vile Parle. These records document school affiliations, so ask your own school about entry arrangements rather than assuming those schools offer public sessions.
What did MCA say about the 2026 Asian Junior championships in Mumbai?
The Free Press Journal, citing MCA, reported that the championships would be held in Mumbai from 16 to 26 August, with 157 players from 10 countries. The AICF circular named ITC Maratha as the venue. Those August 2026 dates describe that edition. Ask MCA about later junior championships before making travel plans around a past listing.
How much do ChessWize online chess classes cost in Mumbai?
Classes start from ₹375 each for children aged 5–15. You can take 1:1 or join a live batch capped at six, always with the same coach, plus a weekly WhatsApp parent report. Monthly plans: full refund within 48 hours of enrolling, then a pro-rated refund minus sessions attended before the third session. After the third session, no refund for the current billing period; cancel to stop future charges. Term packages (3 or 6 months): pro-rated refund minus sessions attended within 7 days of enrolling. After 7 days, no refund; remaining sessions can be completed within the term. Start with a free 30-minute demo — no card or UPI required to try.
Is online chess good enough in Mumbai, and do you have an offline centre?
We do not operate a physical ChessWize centre in Mumbai; all coaching is live online with a coach in the session. That format suits Andheri, Powai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane families who cannot commit to midweek travel. Rated 5.0 on Google from 21 reviews, with English and Hindi available.
Can Mumbai kids still play Maharashtra junior tournaments if they train online?
Yes. Online work builds calculation, openings, and post-game review; local rating and school events supply over-the-board practice. Your coach plans the weekly load so exam weeks and tournament weekends both fit. Parents see progress in the WhatsApp report rather than only at the venue.
How do online classes work for a child who is new to chess?
A beginner starts with the board and legal moves, finishes a complete game, then picks up opening principles, basic tactics and endings. The coach moves at your child's pace, and small batches of 4-6 similarly-rated students mean nobody is left behind or held back.
Will my child keep the same coach every week?
Yes. Our commitment is the same coach every session, with no rotation. The coach learns your child's habits across weeks, sets homework from their actual games, and writes the weekly WhatsApp report you receive as a parent. If a coach ever changes, you would know before it happens, not after.
Can we try a class before paying anything?
Yes. Book the complimentary 30-min demo with no card or UPI needed. Your child also gets a complimentary 30-min level check before you commit, so placement is based on real play rather than a guess. You watch the coach teach, ask questions, and only then decide whether to enrol.
Do Mumbai students still play over-the-board tournaments?
They do. Lessons happen on screen, and rated events stay local on weekends across the Maharashtra junior circuit. The coach plans the weekly load so exam weeks and tournament weekends both fit, and you follow progress through the WhatsApp report rather than only at the venue.
What if we need to stop or take a break?
If you need to stop or take a break for exams or travel, tell the coach: Mumbai families can pause and the remaining sessions are kept. Cancel a monthly plan within 48 hours of enrolling for a full refund, take a pro-rated amount minus sessions attended before the 3rd session, and after the third class this month stays billed while later charges stop when you cancel.
Is English the only language of instruction?
No. Coaching is available in English and Hindi, which suits most Mumbai households. Whichever language your child is comfortable in, the same structure applies: a coach, a small skill-matched batch, and a written weekly report for you. You can note a language preference when you book the demo.
How much homework do I have to supervise at home?
Very little. Short, focused practice beats long blocks: a few minutes of puzzles, or one saved game with a single question for the coach. The coach sets homework matched to the errors from the last class, so your role is guiding and reminding, not teaching chess yourself.
What does it cost to start, exactly?
You begin with the starter pack: ₹2,500 for 8 classes. After that, regular plans run from ₹375 to ₹1,000 per class depending on the plan. Both figures are stated up front, and the free demo costs nothing before any of this.