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.

  • 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.