Bookable class times for Philadelphia
Our coaches teach from India. These are the weekly windows we can actually staff for the US — shown in your local time and the coach's time (IST). You book a fixed weekly slot.
| Slot | Your local time | Coach time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend morning cohorts | Saturday, 8:00–11:00 AM ET | 5:30–8:30 PM IST (approx; shifts 1 hr with US daylight saving) |
| Early-morning weekday slot | Weekday before school, 7:00–8:00 AM ET | 4:30–6:30 PM IST (approx; shifts 1 hr with US daylight saving) |
Why Philadelphia families choose online coaching
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city and an East Coast school and sports metro where weekday evenings fill quickly with homework, sports, and traffic on the Schuylkill and I-76 corridors. South Asian communities are part of both city neighbourhoods and nearby suburbs.
India-based coaches cannot cover Philadelphia weekday after-school hours without overnight teaching, so those slots are not sold. Serviceable windows are weekend mornings Eastern Time and a 7–8 AM ET weekday pre-school hour. For Indian-American households that want a steady coach in English or Hindi without another midweek pickup across the city, those times are the truthful offer.
Honest pricing
ChessWize keeps one price list in Indian rupees (from ₹2,500 for 8 classes). Your card is simply charged the equivalent in your local currency at checkout, so there is no separate or inflated overseas rate. At recent rates that is roughly $4–12 per class depending on the plan; the exact charge follows the live exchange rate.
See full courses & fees →What chess training builds
Beyond the moves — the habits parents notice at home and school.
Focus that carries over
A full game is a 30–60 minute concentration workout. Coaches build it up gradually — most parents notice it first at homework time.
Confidence from real play
Wins are earned against real opponents, and losses get reviewed calmly with the coach — both build a child who isn't afraid to think.
Progress you can actually see
Every week your coach sends a WhatsApp report: what was taught, what improved, what to practise next.
Hear it from parents
Real ChessWize families, in their own words.
"We tried two other academies before ChessWize. The difference is the weekly progress report — I can actually see what's working. He's improved more…"
ChessWize Parent
Parent Review
"She wouldn't even play with her grandfather because she was afraid of losing…"
ChessWize Parent
Parent Review
"His school teacher actually called us to ask what changed. The ability to sit still and concentrate has carried straight into his maths and reading."
ChessWize Parent
Parent Review
What Philadelphia parents pay, exactly
| Format | Per-session price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Group (batches of six) | ₹375 | Per student · session packs |
| Two-on-One | ₹550 | Per student · session packs |
| One-to-One (1:1) | ₹1000 | Per session · session packs |
Starter pack ₹2,500 for 8 classes (₹313/session) · refund on unused classes. ChessWize keeps one price list in Indian rupees wherever you live — your bank converts at its usual rate. See full courses & fees →
Who actually teaches
Hrdyansh Pandey
FIDE 1850
7 years coaching · 700+ students
Best for: Tournament prep & rapid improvement
Tarun Gupta
FIDE 1920
10 years coaching · 300+ students
Best for: Curriculum-driven progress · senior cohort 1:1
Aryan Pal
FIDE 1780
5 years coaching · 200+ students
Best for: First-time learners & restless kids (ages 5–10)
Chess for kids in Philadelphia
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 vs local classes in Philadelphia
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 policy on unused classes.
What parents say on Google
Harshi Agrawal
Jul 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.
Ayushi Gupta
Jun 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.
Anisha Gupta
Jun 2026
Coach Ankit has been amazing for my 8-year-old. He’s super friendly and explains chess rules in a way kids actually get. My son looks forward to every Chesswize class now. He motivates him to do better without any pressure, and I’ve seen fast improvement in both his game and confidence. Highly recommend Ankit for young beginners!
Free 30-minute level check · no payment details needed
Online chess classes in Philadelphia: common questions
How much do online chess classes cost in Philadelphia with ChessWize?
We bill in INR from the single India price list; your card is charged the local-currency equivalent. There is no separate invented USD menu for Philly. Live 1:1 or max-six groups, same coach weekly, unused classes refundable. Free 30-minute demo first with no payment.
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 FIDE-rated 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?
Yes, if you protect one of the staffed windows: weekend morning ET or 7–8 AM ET weekday. Evening practices that conflict with “normal” after-school coaching are exactly why we do not claim weekday-evening coverage. Use the free demo to pick a slot that survives sports calendars before you enrol.