Thinking Chess Academy

I highly recommend ThinKing Chess Academy in Hamilton—especially instructor Sergio, who has a true gift for breaking down complex concepts and making them easy to understand. For anyone serious about improving their game, this is the place to be.

Sergio was an incredible support for my son, helping him confidently qualify for the 2026 Canadian Youth Chess Championship. He is a dedicated instructor and a wonderful mentor for young players. Sergio goes far beyond teaching moves, offering a powerful blend of beginner fundamentals and tournament-level training that truly sharpens analytical skills.
Whether you want to boost your chess rating or develop stronger strategic thinking, Sergio and the team at ThinKing Chess Academy will help you get there. Their programs are engaging, build real confidence, and strengthen logical thinking—skills that pay off well beyond the chessboard.
I wholeheartedly recommend the Academy, and especially Sergio, to anyone ready to take their game to the next level.

I’ve had an excellent experience with Thinking Chess Academy in Toronto, led by Sergio Monroe. The quality of the training is truly outstanding.

The classes are structured, challenging, and very engaging. Sergio has a remarkable ability to explain complex chess concepts in a clear and practical way, helping students not only understand positions but also develop deeper strategic thinking. His teaching goes beyond memorizing moves — it focuses on improving real decision-making over the board.

Since starting the lessons, I’ve made significant progress in my game. My calculation, positional understanding, and overall confidence during games have improved noticeably. The training environment is also very supportive and motivating.

I highly recommend Thinking Chess Academy to anyone who wants to seriously improve their chess skills, whether they are beginners or advanced players. It’s a fantastic place to grow as a chess player.

My daughter attended sessions with Sergio. He is very patient and thorough... and explains exercises and strategic chess moves very well. I would highly recommend Thinking Chess Academy in Hamilton area. My child enjoyed the sessions.

my son KL has been playing chess here since he was 6. he loves playing here with his coach and his classmates. he learned rules and respect other players. he learned that losing a game is normal and he can learn things from that game which makes him better. he was treated well with patience and respect. we will keep coming here.

Sergio has taught our 8 and 11 year old children Sohan and Sareesha for the past year and has been the most amazing chess teacher that we could have asked for! He is extremely dedicated and interested in helping children to reach their full potential. His methods of teaching are very effective and he has decades of experience. We are so lucky to have found Sergio and we highly recommend him to any other families who might be considering a chess teacher.

Sergio is a fantastic chess teacher and mentor. He's extremely knowledgeable, explains in a way that is easy to understand, and tailors sessions to where I am at as a learner. I'm newer to chess, but he's helped me improve substantially in my over-the-board chess skill. I've been winning games in our local tournament! I wouldn't want any other mentor, and I'm excited for my next meeting.

An outstanding chess instructor—knowledgeable, patient, and truly passionate about teaching. My daughter has made remarkable progress under his guidance.

Excellent chess coach and teacher, very didactic and tailored to the different ages. Children, youth and adults will appreciate his bast years of experience and perfect balance between theoretical concepts and practice while having fun!