Onboard is a local business focused on chess coaching run by Dr Ioan Rees (Fide Master). With years of experience coaching at international level, Dr Ioan Rees has a proven track record of helping his students improve their game.

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Ioan was taught to play chess at the age of 9 by his father. Driven by a competative spirit he starting taking chess seriously around a year later. Appart from early tuition from his father he is almost entirely self taught and therefore can pass on these techniques to prospective students. 

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By 12 years old Ioan was the youngest welsh U18 chess champion and at the age of 13 won the Welsh Rapidplay Championships (adults), a title which he won a further 6 times as a teenager. In 2009 he won the Welsh Chess Championship. Ioan also respresented Wales at a number of World and European Youth Championships. A 13th place finish at the European U18 championships in Montenegro in 2005 being his proudest achievment. 

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While studing for his degree in Dentistry Ioan coached a small number of students regularly, all of which represented their country and achieved an over the board rating of 2000 or over. One of his students has gone on to represent their country and a number of Chess Olympiads. 

 

Ioan believes that self-study is essential to becoming a chess master and teaches his students how to teach themselves away from coaching sessions. If you're interested in improving your chess skills, Onboard is the perfect place for you! We offer personalized coaching sessions tailored to your individual needs and skill level. Book your first lesson now and take the first step towards becoming a better chess player.