About us
About Royal Gambit
Every child carries potential. We nurture it through critical thinking, confidence, and concentration, so they grow with clarity and a mindset that wins on and off the board.
Our Beginning
Royal Gambit Chess Academy began as a simple question:
“What if a child learned that discipline can be gentle, clarity can be taught, and confidence can be built piece by piece?”
From that question came a quiet ambition: to build a chess academy in Singapore that focuses less on producing quick winners and more on developing thoughtful, composed, analytical young minds.
As we spoke to parents, we realised something equally important: that many families wanted quality chess education for their children, but accessibility often stood in the way.
So we built Royal Gambit with two commitments:
- To teach chess in a way that strengthens thinking, and
- To make that level of coaching accessible to every family within 30 minutes.
We believe that exceptional ability is not something a child is born with. It is something that can be cultivated through patient teaching, intelligent guidance, and a curriculum built on clarity rather than shortcuts.
Royal Gambit was created to prove that.
What We Stand For
Accessibility With Intention
Every child deserves access to thoughtful, high-quality chess education regardless of where they live. That’s why we follow a clear motto: “A chess class within 30 minutes.”
Our core philosophy
Our core values include Critical Thinking, Confidence, and Concentration, which shapes every lesson, every game, and every young mind we nurture.
Coaches who listen before they teach
Our FIDE-rated coaches observe, personalise, and guide each student based on how they think, not just how they play.
Composure under challenge
A child who can think calmly under pressure gains an edge not only in chess but in every aspect of life.
Growth through structure
We designed a curriculum that progresses the way a young mind develops steadily, intentionally, and with room for thought.
Clarity over complexity
We break ideas down until they become approachable. Understanding, not memorisation, is our foundation.
Our Expertise
Royal Gambit’s strength lies in its approach: We teach children how to think clearly, evaluate calmly, and make decisions with confidence.
Our FIDE-reated coaching team includes experienced players who prioritise teaching skill along with technical knowledge. They are selected for their patience, communication, and ability to explain complex ideas simply and meaningfully.
Each coach is trained to build capability slowly and deliberately, the same way a strong chess player is built.
How We Shape Young Thinkers
A Curriculum with Purpose
Our curriculum is structured to cultivate intelligence in layers, beginning with patterns, moving into planning, and eventually shaping deep analysis. It is designed for children new to the game as well as those ready for higher-level strategy. Learn more about our approach:
Coaching Designed Around the Child
Every child progresses at a different pace. Our coaching framework adapts to that reality, offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced training that grows logically and confidently. Meet the system behind our students’ development:
The Royal Gambit Difference
Royal Gambit is more than a chess academy. It is a place where:
- Children learn to slow down before making decisions
- Mistakes become stepping stones, not setbacks
- Curiosity is nurtured
- Thinking becomes a habit, not a task
Parents often tell us that what their children learn here shows up beyond tournaments in schoolwork, problem-solving, and personal discipline. We consider that the true measure of our success.
A Note From the Founders
Aravindh’s Message
Royal Gambit began with a simple belief that children deserve chess education that teaches them the game and strengthens how they think.
I’ve spent over 14 years in competitive and recreational chess, earning my place in the National Junior Squad training and competing across Singapore and India. I’ve represented school teams, won interschool events and placed in Singapore Chess Federation tournaments, but more meaningful than any result has been the realization that clarity, patience and discipline matter more than winning alone.
During my time in NUS, teaching students showed me how chess could reshape critical thinking, confidence, and clarity in young minds. Royal Gambit was built from that realization to make quality coaching accessible, structured and enjoyable, so children grow not just as players, but as thinkers for life.
Aravindh Kumar Karthikeyan
Founder, Royal Gambit Chess Academy
Anirudh’s Message
Chess has been my companion for over 13 years, influencing my thinking, planning, and problem-solving. It’s more than a game to me, it’s a framework for clearer decisions, calmer minds and stronger resilience.
With a background in technology and education, I always wanted to build a family-friendly space where learning chess is both thoughtful and engaging. Royal Gambit started as that vision: a supportive environment where players of all ages learn, grow and enjoy the game together.
We don’t just teach moves. We teach how to think ahead, with clarity and confidence.
Anirudh Shrinivason
Co-Founder, Royal Gambit Chess Academy
Our Combined Mission
Royal Gambit’s mission is to grow the chess scene in Singapore and make quality chess coaching accessible to every family within 30 minutes. From children discovering the game for the first time to tournament-ready players preparing for competition, we wish to create an academy of players who think with clarity, focus, and conviction through the 3Cs.
Critical Thinking
Concentration
Confidence
The 3Cs that shape a player and a person. One move, one lesson, one quiet moment of clarity at a time.
FAQs
Royal Gambit was built on a simple belief: children become strong thinkers through deliberate teaching, not pressure or memorisation. Our coaching is rooted in the 3Cs: Critical Thinking, Confidence, and Concentration, helping children focus on clarity, composure, and intelligent decision-making. Parents choose us because our approach strengthens the way a child learns and the way they play. And with our commitment to “a chess academy within 30 minutes”, quality training is never out of reach.
Royal Gambit began with the desire to create a learning environment where every child could grow intelligently and steadily. We felt there was room for a chess academy that treated thinking as a skill to be shaped, not something a child simply “has” or “doesn’t have.” Our story is rooted in the belief that genuine understanding leads to genuine capability, and that these habits carry far beyond the chessboard.
Our curriculum is created by experienced coaches and educators who understand how children learn best — with structure, patience, and clear progression.Every concept in our curriculum builds logically on the previous one, ensuring that learning is deep, not rushed. This structure is what allows students to grow into composed, confident thinkers over time.
We prioritise learning first. Competition becomes meaningful only when a child understands what they’re doing and why. Our academy focuses on building strong thinking habits, and once that foundation forms, tournaments naturally become a space for applying those skills.
Some students choose competitive paths, others prefer steady growth — both are supported without pressure.
Join Us
If you believe your child can grow through structured thinking, calm analysis, and meaningful guidance, Royal Gambit welcomes you. We’d be glad to be part of their journey.