NM Benjamin Larkin

I'm a National Master from the UK and specialise in helping adult players improve. I began playing chess at 16, and almost all of my improvement came as an adult, so I understand the challenges of improving later in life and balancing chess with work, study, and other commitments.

Teaching has always been a major part of my life. I have over a decade of coaching experience in various disciplines and currently work as a coach across chess, esports, and rock climbing. I find it incredibly rewarding to help others improve, build confidence, and achieve their goals.

I started playing chess in 2018 and achieved the National Master title as an adult, whilst simultaneously pursuing other hobbies, working, and studying. I have competed extensively in tournaments across the UK and internationally, including the Reykjavik Open, Menorca Open, and Sunway Sitges. I also regularly compete in the British National League (4NCL).

I have 6 years of chess coaching experience and have taught hundreds of private students. I also have extensive experience coaching groups in schools and chess clubs.

I specialise in coaching adults, but I am happy to work with students of all ages. I have coached players across a wide range of abilties, from complete beginners to experienced players rated higher than myself. Teaching has always been my primary job and has given me a strong understanding of how people learn and improve, and how to adapt my approach to each individual student.

I have 11 years of coaching experience across multiple disciplines. Before coaching chess, I was primarily coaching esports. Coaching different skills has taught me that improvement follows similar principles regardless of the activity.

Within chess I also have some experience seconding, commentating, and streaming.

- Explaining complex ideas in a way that is simple and easy to understand
- Identifying weaknesses and understanding how to work on them
- Personalising training to the individual and a strong understanding of how different people improve
- Understanding of how to use engines productively for analysis, improvement, and openings
- Communication skills and creating a supportive environment where questions are encouraged
- Strong opening knowledge, including many uncommon lines and ideas
- Annotating student games and providing clear areas of focus for independent work

My coaching approach is built on the experience I have gained from coaching across multiple disciplines. I first aim to understand the individual student and their chess. I do this by discussing their own thoughts about their strengths and weaknesses, as well as analysing their games in my own time to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

Lessons are then tailored to the student's needs. This may involve targeted work on specific weaknesses, discussing concepts that are particularly relevant to their chess, or analysing recent games and important positions together. I want every lesson to have a clear purpose and for the student to leave knowing exactly what they should be working on and how to work on it independently.

I believe that consistent, focused practice is much more effective than trying to improve everything at once. My goal is to teach students how to adapt their thought process so that they are asking the right questions, and how to develop the skills needed to answer those questions for themselves.