CM Robert Willmoth

I am a professional chess coach and Managing Director, running my own chess company www.chesscoachingservices.co.uk .I have a team of coaches working in schools across a number of counties in England. I also run Barnet Knights junior chess club www.barnetknights.com This is by far the strongest and largest junior chess club in the UK.

I changed career in 2010 after working in investment banking for 21 years. This was the best career move I have ever made. I get great job satisfaction from watching children learn. The children i coach compete in all main junior events in the UK such as the E.P.S.C.A. and the L.J.J.C My school teams and Barnet Knights compete in the National school and National 4Nations league with great success wining numerous titles. A vast proportion of the children at Barnet Knights chess club are also regular England International

I am also an English Chess Federation Grade 4 accredited coach as well as being a Fide trainer. In addition to my coaching roles i am the director of membership for the English Chess Federation and the chairman of the National Chess Coaching Group

I have been in playing for 40 years. I competed at the British championship from the age of 17 for the next 18 consecutive years. My best victories are against Grandmasters Glenn Flear, Pete Wells and Michael Adams.

In addition to chess I as London cross country running champion when I was 14, and played football to a high standard until the age of 42.

I have also taken and passed he English arbiters exam and have a fide licence as well

My team teach in over 50 schools. We have a set structure for daily lessons in schools. This has proved very successful since its inception in 2020. The pupils i taught when i started are now approaching master level. My first ever student within a short period of tie won the London U8 , U10 and British U8, U9 and U10 titles. In addition to this i have had a number of different schools reach the National schools team finals including The Beacon, NBH, and Garden Suburb.

I spent 21 years at Barclays Capital, leaving as a Vice President in 2010.

My best skill in teaching is understanding very quickly a students needs and adapting the training around their abilities to bring out the fastest improvement

I have a set structure in all of my schools and individual lessons. I follow a step by step approach, using building blocks of chess knowledge to build on current skills and enhance new skills.