What this Philadelphia class is
ChessWize is a live online chess class for children aged 5–15, offered to families in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia.
Who the format fits
It fits families with a beginner through a rated player who can keep a weekly class with the same coach, 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 Philadelphia.
Chess coaching that fits a Philadelphia school week
Most Philadelphia weekdays fill up with homework, sports practice, and traffic on the Schuylkill or I-76, so we built the schedule around that reality. For Main Line and city families who want steady coaching at home, that is the honest offer.
Your child learns live with a coach: Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta, or Aryan Pal, teaching in English or Hindi. Group batches hold 4-6 similarly-rated students, or you can choose 1:1. The same coach stays with your child week after week; that is how the programme is run, not a hope. Sessions are live over video, never recordings, so the coach watches the moves and corrects them in the moment.
A ChessWize student says in a video: 'I truly enjoy the class, and it is fun and engaging.' On Google we hold a 5.0 rating from 21 reviews.
The local chess scene is real, and our training points at it. US Chess runs rated scholastic events nationwide, ASAP Chess supports more than 150 school and community clubs plus the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League from October through February, and the World Open is usually held around Independence Day weekend. Four months is typically all it takes for a ChessWize student to step into their first tournament. Our refund terms stay simple: monthly plans in Philadelphia refund within 48 hours of enrolling, and a weekly WhatsApp report after every class.
Chess in Philadelphia: school teams and Saturday tournaments
Philadelphia school chess includes a rated league and Saturday tournaments, with ASAP supporting participation in state championships. ASAP Chess states it has more than 150 clubs and over 2,500 students and calls itself one of the largest scholastic chess programs in the country. From October through February it runs the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League, a US Chess Federation-rated league with 50 school teams in elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Monthly Saturday scholastic tournaments from October to May are US Chess rated and feature more than 150 players in beginner, intermediate and advanced sections. ASAP also says it sponsors more than 100 Philadelphia students to the Pennsylvania State Chess Championships each year.
Who runs junior chess here
- ASAP Chess. It states it has more than 150 clubs and over 2,500 students, and it calls itself one of the largest scholastic chess programs in the country. [1]
- Pennsylvania State Chess Federation. It states it is the official state affiliate to the United States Chess Federation and that its State Scholastic and Quick Chess Championships are traditionally held in March. [2]
Events a child from Philadelphia can enter
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Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League
October through February · Philadelphia; the 2 December 2025 match listing named 440 N. Broad St.
The league page describes an 8-round Swiss for public and charter schools, split across four matches and three grade-level leagues, with 50 school teams in elementary, middle, and high school divisions. [1][3]
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ASAP Saturday scholastic chess tournaments
Monthly, October to May · Philadelphia (ASAP listings)
ASAP describes US Chess-rated Saturday tournaments with more than 150 players across beginner, intermediate and advanced sections; ask about eligibility before choosing a first event. [1]
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2026 Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships
7-8 March 2026 · Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg
US Chess listed 11 sections including K-3 Open, K-5 Open, K-8 Open and K-12 Open, and ASAP says it sponsors more than 100 Philadelphia students to the Pennsylvania State Chess Championships each year. [4][1]
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Philadelphia Scholastic (HS) Chess League Match #1
2 December 2025 · School District of Philadelphia, 440 N. Broad St.
ASAP listed this high-school match at 440 N. Broad St. within a league described as an 8-round Swiss across four matches for public and charter schools. [3]
Where to play
- 440 N. Broad St.. ASAP listed Philadelphia Scholastic (HS) Chess League Match #1 for 2 December 2025 at the School District of Philadelphia at this address. [3]
Players from Philadelphia
- Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade. She was born on 31 December 1980 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a two-time United States Women's Champion. [5]
From online class to a first tournament
- Ask whether the school already fields a team in the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League's elementary or middle division, which runs from October through February.
- Ask ASAP whether your child can enter a Saturday beginner section without a school team, and check its October-to-May tournament listings.
- Read US Chess new-member information so league or Saturday games can establish a rating.
- Follow PSCF for state scholastic dates and sections; its championships are traditionally held in March, while the Harrisburg listing describes the past 2026 edition.
Good to know
- Pennsylvania is listed among the US states located entirely in the Eastern Time Zone.
- The March 2026 state scholastic notice gave the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg as its venue; verify the address for another edition before booking travel.
- Follow ASAP's chess page for league and Saturday tournament information, then confirm the entry arrangements for the event your child would like to play.
Sources (checked 2026-09-28)
- [1] Chess | ASAP
- [2] Pennsylvania State Chess Federation (PSCF)
- [3] Philadelphia Scholastic (HS) Chess League Match #1 | ASAP
- [4] 2026 Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships | US Chess.org
- [5] Wikipedia biography of a Philadelphia-born woman grandmaster
- [6] Eastern Time Zone - Wikipedia
- [7] Information for New Members | US Chess.org
Class times for Philadelphia
Families in Philadelphia book classes in their own time zone, during their local working day. The exact time is chosen when you book the free demo.
Philadelphia keeps US Eastern Time. Daylight saving still changes in this part of the US, so the coach's clock moves by an hour in spring and fall. The hour you book stays on your clock.
What Philadelphia parents pay
Regular classes run from ≈ $3.90 to ≈ $10.41 per live class. The starter pack is ≈ $26.02 for 8 classes.
Our prices are set in Indian rupees. If you pay from outside India, checkout shows and charges the amount in your local currency; local figures on this page are estimates as of 2026-09-29.
The coaching roster parents can check
No coach is assigned to Philadelphia 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 a coach: Hrdyansh Pandey, Tarun Gupta, or Aryan Pal. Classes are live over video, not recordings, so the coach sees every move and corrects it in real time. Teaching is in English or Hindi, and your child keeps the same coach every session.
See coaches -
Check 2
How many children share the coach?
Group classes are capped at 4-6 similarly-rated students, so the coach can hear each child calculate out loud, and 12-week batches stay together. If you want full attention, the 1:1 Analyst Protocol maps your child's current game, targets the highest-value gap, and tests the change in play. Either way your child is placed by working level, not by age alone.
See class size -
Check 3
Is there a real curriculum from beginner to rated play?
Levels run from beginner through intermediate and advanced, plus age tracks for 5-8, 9-12, and 13-15. A beginner learns the board, finishes complete games, and picks up opening principles and basic tactics; intermediate work stabilises tactical vision and candidate moves; advanced students audit their games and convert training into events. Tournament-prep and rating-improvement tracks sit on top of the ladder.
See the curriculum -
Check 4
How will I know it is working?
You receive a weekly WhatsApp report for every student; that is a standing guarantee, not something you request. The report shows what your child covered and where the coach is pushing next, so you can follow progress even if you do not play chess yourself. Between classes, saved games and one honest question give the coach better evidence than a stream of unreviewed blitz.
See progress reports -
Check 5
Is it safe, and can I see the classes?
Classes are live and supervised, with a named coach and no open chat with strangers, and a parent sets everything up; in the spirit of COPPA, children do not create their own accounts with us. A coach teaches every session over video, so you always know exactly who is teaching your child, and the weekly WhatsApp report tells you what each class covered.
Read safety policy -
Check 6
Can we try before paying?
The coach uses that session to place your child in a group batch or 1:1, so you know exactly what you are joining before you spend anything. No payment details are required to book it.
See the level check -
Check 7
What if we stop?
Philadelphia still returns a full refund on a monthly plan within 48 hours of enrolling, then a pro-rated refund minus sessions attended before the 3rd class. The month already counted then stays billed, while a cancel still blocks later invoices. Start with the starter pack at ≈ $26.02 for 8 classes, which keeps the first commitment small while you see whether the weekly rhythm works.
See refund terms -
Check 8
Will the timings fit our week?
Philadelphia follows the clock named in the schedule note on this page. The weekly time is agreed at the free demo, and the same coach holds that agreement.
See class times -
Check 9
What does it cost, exactly?
The starter pack is ≈ $26.02 for 8 classes. After that, regular plans run from ≈ $3.90 to ≈ $10.41 per class depending on the plan. Those are two different prices for two different things. We bill from one price list.
See fees -
Check 10
Is there a path to tournaments?
ASAP Chess holds US Chess-rated Saturday scholastic tournaments each month from October to May, and its Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League runs October through February with 50 school teams. It also sponsors more than 100 Philadelphia students to the state championships each year. Students, on average, reach a first tournament in about four months; look at the chosen event's requirements.
See results -
Check 11
What do I have to do at home?
Keep it small and regular. For younger children, five to ten focused minutes work better than a long block: set up the board, walk through how one piece moves, or solve two familiar positions. Older children save one slower game each week and bring a single honest question or a short error log to class. The coach designs the rest; you are not the chess teacher.
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 Philadelphia-tagged record first when the source has one.
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
She used to cry after every loss. Not anymore.
“Anika was playing 'casually' on chess.com and hanging pieces every game. First month the coach just drilled Checks-Captures-Threats. The dashboard is what sold me though. I don't know chess, but I can see exactly what she covered each week. Her play sharpened on its own by week eight.”
Monika Iyer
Mother of Anika (11) · Kanpur
February 2026
Google reviews from ChessWize parents
Google rating 5.0 from 21 reviews; the stored set was pulled 2026-07-08.
Padma
June 2026
★★★★★
Hi, just wanted to share a feedback about the ongoing chess classes My daughter harshitha really enjoyed learning chess with Ankit Rajoriya. His classes are highly engaging and interactive, making it easy to stay focused throughout the session. He explains concepts clearly, patiently answers questions, and provides practical strategies that help improve both understanding and gameplay. I have noticed a steady improvement in her chess skills and confidence since joining his classes. I would highly recommend Ankit as a chess coach to anyone looking to learn and grow in chess. Really appreciate the effort and happy with her progress 👍
Read on Google →manasa
June 2026
★★★★★
It was a great platform for kids and learners.. teaching concepts and making them to think and play..Ankit rajoriya sir was excellent in teaching makes children in comfort zone by funy way and he starts teaching .that is the way children can engage whole time..
Read on Google →Utkarsh
December 2025
★★★★★
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great learning platform with clear teaching, supportive mentors, and well-structured content. Very effective and highly recommended
Read on Google →Why the online format fits Philadelphia
South Asian communities are part of both city neighbourhoods and nearby suburbs.
Families in Philadelphia join the live class from home, with the same coach from week to week.
Local chess context
US Chess organises rated scholastic events nationwide, and the Philadelphia region has long participated in school and weekend tournament culture common to large East Coast metros. A weekly structured lesson helps a child prepare for that scene without assuming every family will travel to every event. Philadelphia's scholastic scene is anchored by ASAP Chess, which supports more than 150 school and community chess clubs and runs the US Chess-rated Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League from October through February, alongside monthly Saturday scholastic tournaments and the annual Philly Girls Play Chess event. The city also hosts the World Open, an annual international open usually played in Philadelphia over the Independence Day weekend since the 1970s.
Online and nearby offline choices
Offline clubs work well when the venue is close and the coach is consistent. ChessWize is online-only with no Philly centre. Online fits when parking, transit, or dual work schedules make midweek attendance fragile, and when you want weekly WhatsApp parent reports plus a refund that reaches the original payment method within 7-10 business days.
See class details, fees and safety information below.
Questions from parents in Philadelphia
How does the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League work for a younger child?
ASAP describes a US Chess Federation-rated league from October through February with 50 school teams in elementary, middle, and high school divisions. A separate match page says the league is an 8-round Swiss for public and charter schools in Philadelphia, split across four matches and three grade-level leagues. Match #1 of the high-school pairing was listed for 2 December 2025 at 440 N. Broad St. Ask the school which division it enters.
What if my child is not on a school team yet?
ASAP holds monthly Saturday scholastic chess tournaments from October to May that are US Chess rated. They feature more than 150 players in beginner, intermediate and advanced sections, so ask ASAP whether the beginner group accepts individual entries from children without a school team. ASAP also states it has more than 150 clubs and over 2,500 students. Use the ASAP chess page for the Saturday date you mean.
What venue did the 2026 Pennsylvania scholastic listing give?
US Chess listed the championships for 7-8 March 2026 at the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, with 11 sections including K-3 Open, K-5 Open, K-8 Open and K-12 Open. PSCF says its State Scholastic and Quick Chess Championships are traditionally held in March. ASAP says it sponsors more than 100 Philadelphia students to the Pennsylvania State Chess Championships each year. Confirm the venue for other editions with PSCF.
How much do online chess classes cost in Philadelphia with ChessWize?
We bill in INR from the single India price list; Checkout shows and charges the currency of the country you pay from. There is no separate invented USD menu for Philly. Live 1:1 or max-six groups, same coach weekly, and cancel a session at least 4 hours ahead for a free make-up. Free 30-minute demo first with no payment.
How does a family in Philadelphia choose the weekly class time?
You choose the weekly time when you book the free demo, and the same coach keeps it. You can move it when school terms or travel change the week.
Is online good compared with a local academy, and is there a ChessWize centre here?
There is no ChessWize offline centre in Philadelphia. Coaching is live on video with a coach, not recorded lessons. Many parents keep any local club for OTB social play and use ChessWize for planned weekly teaching. Ages 5–15, English or Hindi, programme rated 5.0 on Google from 21 reviews.
Can a child continue classes during winter sports season on the Main Line?
Use the free demo to pick a slot that survives sports calendars before you enrol.
Are the classes live or recorded lessons?
Live over video, always. A coach watches your child play and corrects mistakes in real time, which is the whole point of the format. There are no recordings to fall behind on and no app replacing a teacher.
Does my child need chess experience before joining?
No. Complete beginners start by learning the board and legal moves, then finish their first full game within the beginner track, and the coach confirms ideas with repetition and variation rather than one diagram. We also run dedicated age tracks, so a five-year-old and a thirteen-year-old are not thrown into the same batch. The level check in your demo tells you exactly where your child would start.
Will my child get the same coach each week?
Yes. Our same-coach guarantee means no rotation: the coach who does your child's level check is the coach who teaches every session after it. Continuity matters more in chess than in most subjects, because the coach remembers which positions confused your child last month and builds the next lesson from that. It is also why we cap batches at 4-6 students.
Do you have an offline centre in Philadelphia?
No, ChessWize is online-only with no Philadelphia centre, so there is no venue to drive to across the city or the Main Line. Rather than pre-recorded lessons, your child gets real-time video sessions with a coach. Many parents keep a local club for over-the-board social play and use ChessWize for planned weekly teaching.
What ages does ChessWize teach in Philadelphia?
Children from age 5 through 15, with dedicated tracks for the 5-8, 9-12, and 13-15 groups alongside beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. A five-year-old works on setting up the board and safe move habits, while a teenager builds a working repertoire and an honest baseline. Working level, not birthday alone, decides placement, and the demo settles it.
Is the Philadelphia demo a real class?
Yes. The Philadelphia demo is a live 30-minute session with a coach and a level check, and it needs no payment details. You meet the coach before you enrol.
Does a Philadelphia child keep the same coach?
Yes. One coach stays with your child from week to week in Philadelphia, rather than rotating. The weekly note tells you what the lesson covered.
Is my child’s privacy protected (COPPA)?
Classes are live and supervised, with no open chat with strangers and a named coach. We collect only what a parent provides to book and run classes, and a parent sets everything up. In the spirit of COPPA, children do not create their own accounts with us.
Do we get a free trial first?
Yes. You start with a complimentary 30-minute demo and level check, with no payment details required.
Are these live classes or recorded lessons?
Live over video with a coach who watches your child play and corrects them in real time, not recorded content.