Chess & Checkers Club

Last Saturday, the atmosphere at Liberi Laeti was charged with focus, strategy, and bursts of excitement as our young chess learners aged 6 to 9 participated in their very first in-house chess tournament.

After weeks of learning the fundamentals—from opening moves and tactical patterns to endgame techniques—our students finally got a chance to put their skills to the test in real games against one another.

What a day it was!

Boys and girls alike stepped up with confidence, showing just how much they’ve grown in their understanding of the game. Pieces were moved with purpose, clocks ticked down as decisions were weighed, and the room was filled with respectful silence, broken only by the occasional whisper of “check!” and a victorious smile at the word “checkmate.”

Our coach, Igor, couldn’t have been prouder. “It’s one thing to learn chess on a board with guidance,” he said, “but it’s something entirely different to handle a full game on your own. These children showed courage, focus, and real sportsmanship.”

It wasn’t about winning or losing—it was about thinking ahead, respecting your opponent, and learning from every move. Even those who didn’t make it to the final round walked away with a sense of achievement and plenty of motivation to improve.

We were especially thrilled to see such balance across all kids—our girls played beautifully, with strategic sharpness and great determination. The boys brought their energy and competitive spirit, making every round fun and challenging.

This tournament marks a turning point in our chess lessons. From here, we’ll be diving deeper into game analysis, famous strategies, and more competitive play. Who knows?

We might be nurturing the next chess prodigy right here at Liberi Laeti.

Thank you to all the families who encouraging our young champions to learn and progress, and congratulations to every child who took part.

You made us proud.

Until next Saturday —checkmate!