Meet the Team

Gabriel and Sam first met playing for the England Junior Chess Team, and chess has been at the heart of their friendship ever since.

Now older and a bit wiser, they are established figures in UK chess as both players and coaches. Between them, they have coached hundreds of pupils of all levels, including England Juniors. Sam holds an ECF rating of 2257 and earned the National Master title in 2024, while Gabriel has an online rating of 2100 and a particular passion for rapid and blitz chess.

We have experienced coach Konstantinos and arbiter Domenico part of the team.

  • Sam is a National Master with an ECF rating of 2251 and has represented England from Under 11 to Under 18. His achievements include playing in the World U16 Team Olympiad, the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi, and winning the British U14 Championship in 2008. He now shares his love of the game through coaching and regular volunteer sessions at Battersea Library, helping young players build both chess skills and confidence.

  • Gabriel learned chess from his dad and quickly outgrew his first teacher, sparking a lifelong passion for the game. He represented England as a junior, led his school to 3rd place in the British Schools Chess Championships, and has coached in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands as well as at Haberdashers’ Borough Academy. Gabriel loves working with children who enjoy chess and focuses on nurturing their enthusiasm while steadily improving their play.

  • Domenico is a strong club player and experienced chess coach. Coaching full‑time for a decade, he has led countless school clubs, camps, and private training for students of all ages across London and internationally. He is also an up-and-coming tournament organiser and arbiter, having hosted more than 10 London‑based chess events with more in the pipeline.

  • Konstantinos is a dedicated chess coach and competitive player with over a decade of experience in the game. He has an ECF rating of 2100, winning strong tournaments in both the UK and Greece. He has achieved excellent results with his students in London Chess Congresses and the UK Chess Challenge. His coaching is known for being both structured and inspiring. When Konstantinos teaches chess, his love for the game is unmistakable - reflected in his storytelling, mentoring approach, and passionate delivery.