About Us
Building strong players, confident learners, and a growing chess community in Edmonton.
Who We Are
We are a chess academy based in Edmonton, offering in-person and online lessons, tournaments, and camps. While we have a strong focus on young students, players of all ages and levels are welcome.
Our academy was founded with one clear mission: to grow both the size and the strength of the chess community in Edmonton.
We believe chess is more than a game — it builds critical thinking, patience, confidence, and resilience. By creating a supportive and structured learning environment, we help students develop strong fundamentals while enjoying the learning process.
Our Vision
- Introduce more children and families to chess
- Develop strong local players and future competitors
- Strengthen Edmonton’s chess culture through education and events
- Make high-quality chess training accessible and enjoyable
Our Coaches
Samuel Hoekman
Samuel began playing competitive chess at the age of nine. During the COVID-19 chess boom, he committed himself to serious training and rapidly emerged as one of the strongest players in the province.
His competitive achievements include three top-four finishes at National Youth Championships, two Provincial Youth titles, and selection as Canada’s official representative at the U-18 Canadian Youth Chess Championships.
Samuel is currently completing the final requirements for his National Master title while in his second year of an economics degree, and he coaches students with a focus on high-level competitive performance.
Amir Bahmani
Amir began playing chess in Iran at a young age and quickly emerged as one of the country’s top junior talents. He is a former Iran Youth Chess Champion and represented Iran at multiple World Youth Chess Championships.
After a six-year hiatus to focus on his university studies, Amir relocated to Edmonton to pursue his master’s degree and returned to competitive chess, rapidly establishing himself as one of the strongest players in the province.
His recent results include a second-place finish at the Alberta Chess Championship and winning the 2025 Edmonton Chess Championship.
Alongside his competitive career, Amir is an experienced coach who works closely with developing players. He is currently completing the requirements for the FIDE Master title.