Why Families in Saudi Arabia Choose TheChessLifestyle
FIDE Tournament Preparation
We prepare students for FIDE-rated events organised by the Saudi Chess Federation — national championships, school circuits, and international opens held in Riyadh and Jeddah.
AST-Compatible Scheduling
Saudi Arabia (AST, GMT+3) has excellent timezone overlap with India (IST, GMT+5:30). We offer morning, afternoon, and evening slots with no compromise on convenience.
India's Chess Grandmaster Tradition
India has produced over 80 Grandmasters and is one of the world's fastest-growing chess powerhouses. Our FIDE Rated coaches bring the depth of that coaching culture to every online lesson.
Expat-Friendly & English Medium
All sessions are conducted in English, making our programme accessible and ideal for expat families from India, UK, the US, and other countries currently living in KSA.
Focus, Discipline & Cognitive Growth
Chess is scientifically proven to improve concentration, patience, critical thinking, and emotional regulation — all core values aligned with Saudi Arabia's educational development goals under Vision 2030.
Structured Progress & Reporting
Monthly progress reports, annotated game analysis, and a personalised learning roadmap give parents in Saudi Arabia full visibility into their child's chess development journey.
Chess in Saudi Arabia: The Vision 2030 Chess Revolution
Saudi Arabia is experiencing one of the most dramatic chess booms in the world. Under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative — which aims to diversify Saudi society, economy, and cultural life — chess has been identified as a key sport for youth development and international engagement. The Saudi Chess Federation has dramatically expanded its activities over the past several years, hosting world-class international tournaments, launching school chess programmes across all regions, and registering rapidly growing numbers of FIDE-rated players.
Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam have all hosted major chess events in recent years, and the Kingdom's ambition to develop a generation of strong players is backed by significant institutional support. For families across Saudi Arabia — both Saudi nationals and the large expat communities from India, the UK, the US, and Southeast Asia — the timing has never been better to begin or deepen a chess education.
The India–Saudi Arabia Chess Connection
India has a particularly strong connection with Saudi Arabia through its large expat community — over 2.5 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, making it one of the largest Indian diaspora populations in the world. Many Indian families in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, and other Saudi cities are actively seeking Indian-style academic enrichment for their children, including chess coaching. Our platform is designed precisely for this community: top Indian FIDE Rated coaching, conducted in English, at times that suit AST.
Beyond the Indian expat community, we warmly welcome Saudi national families, and families from all other nationalities residing in the Kingdom. Chess is a universal language, and our structured curriculum is accessible to complete beginners as well as players already active in Saudi Chess Federation events.
FIDE Rating Goals in the Saudi Competitive Scene
The Saudi Chess Federation uses the standard FIDE rating system. Students competing in Saudi tournaments are rated using the same global Elo scale — which means our FIDE-standard coaching methodology directly translates to improvement in Saudi competitive events. We help students build opening repertoires suited to the tactical, dynamic chess that is popular in Saudi club and tournament play, combined with essential endgame technique and time management skills for standard and rapid time controls.
Practical Benefits for Saudi Families
For families in Saudi Arabia, our online chess programme offers a unique combination of advantages: FIDE Rated coaching of the highest standard, zero travel requirements (all sessions are online via Zoom), scheduling that fits naturally around Saudi school hours and the AST timezone, and pricing that is significantly more accessible than what private in-person coaching in Saudi cities typically costs. Sessions are conducted entirely in English, with an interactive digital board on Lichess or Chess.com for live analysis. Monthly progress reports in English are sent directly to parents.
Saudi Chess Under Vision 2030 — Key Facts
Chess in Saudi Arabia has undergone a remarkable transformation. Here's what makes the Kingdom one of the world's fastest-growing chess nations — and why now is the perfect time to start.
International Tournaments
Saudi Arabia has hosted major FIDE-rated tournaments in Riyadh and Jeddah, attracting top Grandmasters from around the world.
School Chess Programmes
The Saudi Chess Federation has launched chess programmes across hundreds of schools nationwide as part of the Vision 2030 youth development agenda.
Rapid FIDE Registration Growth
Saudi Arabia's FIDE-registered player count has grown dramatically year-on-year as the Kingdom invests heavily in chess infrastructure and competition.
National Championships
The Saudi Chess Federation runs annual national championships, junior circuits, and university-level events — creating a full competitive pathway for players at all levels.
Chess as Strategic Development
Chess aligns with Vision 2030's goals of building cognitive capability, analytical thinking, and a competitive global mindset among Saudi youth.
India–Saudi Chess Bridge
With over 2.5 million Indians in Saudi Arabia, our FIDE Rated Indian coaches are ideally placed to serve both the expat community and Saudi national families.
Who We Serve in Saudi Arabia
Our online chess programme is open to everyone in the Kingdom — Saudi nationals, Indian expats, and families from all other nationalities living and working in KSA.
Your FIDE Rated Coach
Chirag Soni
FIDE ID: 25971115
Chirag has coached students across the Gulf region and has a thorough understanding of the Saudi Chess Federation's competitive landscape and FIDE-rated tournament formats used in KSA. He is experienced working with both expat children living in Saudi Arabia and Saudi national families, adapting his teaching style to each student's background, goals, and learning pace. His coaching methodology blends tactical sharpness with long-term positional thinking — the combination that wins tournaments in any country.
How to Get Started
1. Book a FREE Trial
Complete the form below. We confirm your FREE 45-minute session within 24 hours and schedule it at a time that suits AST (GMT+3) — before school, after school, or weekends.
2. Level Assessment
Your FIDE Rated coach evaluates your level on Zoom and creates a personalised improvement plan targeting your specific FIDE rating goals and Saudi Federation tournament schedule.
3. Weekly Growth
Attend regular weekly sessions, receive annotated game notes and homework puzzles, and watch your FIDE rating climb with a structured, measurable programme.
Frequently Asked Questions — Saudi Arabia
Yes. Chess is fully supported and actively promoted in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. The Saudi Chess Federation has expanded dramatically, organising FIDE-rated events, school programmes, and international competitions across the Kingdom.
Absolutely. We have many Indian, British, American, and other expat families across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Khobar enrolled in our programme. All sessions are in English and scheduled for AST convenience.
Yes. We have a dedicated FIDE tournament preparation track covering opening systems, tactical training, time management, and endgame technique — aligned with the formats used in Saudi Chess Federation-rated events.
A device (laptop, tablet, or desktop) with a working camera, microphone, and internet connection. We use Zoom for the live session and Lichess or Chess.com for the shared interactive board. Both are free to access.
100% — no credit card, no deposit, no obligation. You get a full 45-minute session with a FIDE Rated coach. Enrolment in a regular programme is entirely your choice afterward.