Throughout the years, we have met many educators from all over the world in our Training Courses and Discussion Group Meetings who are doing a great job with Chess in Education. We want to introduce their unique perspectives and share their stories that might be of interest and inspiration to others.
Meet Christos Tzevelekakis from Austria
Christos currently works as a Reservations Manager at a 4-star hotel in Salzburg, Austria. He never taught chess but grew an interest in Chess in Education in the last years. As a lifelong learner, he has gained the ECU School Chess Teacher Certificate and a Diploma from the Academic Training course Chess in Primary Education from the University of the Aegean. With all the knowledge he has acquired, he is now ready to share his passion for chess with others. His philosophical mindset and curiosity will make him an excellent educator.
Interview:
Tell us a little bit about your background, education and work:
I first started studying Optic Optometry, but I never finished it. Instead, I shifted to the tourism industry, where I completed my studies and earned a couple of diplomas. Beyond formal education, I’ve always been drawn to self-learning. I have language certificates in English, German, and Italian, and I’ve taken various courses—chess being one of them. For the past few years, I’ve also been studying Stoic philosophy and its applications, and I’m in the process of becoming a mentor.
As for my career, most of my work has been in hotels or tourism companies, where understanding different people and colleagues is essential. I started humbly, working seasonal receptionist jobs for 10 hours a day, often without days off. But those experiences gave me the push to keep improving on my own terms.
Eventually, I transitioned into reservations, where I developed expertise and trained many colleagues. I was also a waiter when I first moved to Austria and didn’t yet speak the language well. I even tried my hand at real estate and worked in a casino.
Looking ahead, I’m planning to study Agile Coaching (I’ve enrolled in a self-paced online course in German) and I’m also learning Scrum. Why? Because the principles work. Learning how to coach, mentor, and train teams is one of my Dharmas, if I may say so.
How did you become interested in chess and what was your experience with chess before teaching it?
My first interactions with chess were as a kid. A neighbour taught me how to play, and another one at our summer vacation apartment showed me a few things, too. But I was never really into it back then.
Fast forward to high school—I used to skip lessons and play chess in the library. I skipped philosophy class a lot, which is ironic, but that’s a true anecdote.
Still, I didn’t pursue chess until much later. At a difficult point in my life, when my mind was exhausted, chess became my retreat. When you’re emotionally and psychologically distressed, you often can’t even think straight. But chess was there for me in my hardest times. That’s why I deeply value the cognitive skills and resilience it builds.
Since then, I’ve been playing casually, mostly online. I can’t recall exactly how many games I’ve played, but for the last 3–4 years, I’ve played at least one game daily. Or at least I think so—I guess I’ll find out after this year!
As for teaching, that’s a different story. I need experience, but I’m sure I can do it. Why not help others learn the game? With time and patience, I can only get better at it, right?
What has your journey as a chess educator been like so far? When and how did it begin?
I haven’t started teaching yet, but if an opportunity comes up, I’ll take it. It’s never too late!
What inspired you to start using chess as an educational tool? What was your motivation?
My personal experience—chess is more than a game. It’s a different dimension. A valuable tool. That’s motivation enough. Plus, it’s fun! I love playing. It keeps you young. That’s a driving force that’s unbeatable.
What challenges have you faced in promoting Chess in Education, and how have you overcome them?
I wouldn’t have an issue promoting chess. I know it’s not self-evident for a lot of people, but my personal experience is enough to overcome any challenges. You can’t predict everything, but there’s always a solution.
What makes you keep going?
I like it. I just do. And that keeps me going.
Plans for the future? What are your long-term goals?
Ideally, I’d love to carve out a place for myself in the chess world. Teaching, promoting, creating pages, events, tournaments—chess has no borders.
How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
Let people make mistakes—why not? It’s a learning opportunity. I prefer letting others find answers for themselves, but I’m there to guide them when needed. The goal is to make them independent.
Let them have fun, but also help them grow as individuals. And why not throw in a story or two? People love stories.
What are your special interest areas in education and why?
Mental resilience. I can’t stress enough how important this is in life. Look at what we’re teaching kids versus what we could be teaching them instead.
I was often bored in school. A lack of engagement, a lack of interesting lessons. Why not make learning something that belongs to the students? Chess fits right in—it teaches fun, respect, patience, logic, math, calculation, and so much more.
Any memorable or proud moments from your chess teaching experience?
Not yet. 😉
Any positive impact (life skills, academic benefits, etc.) you see on students learning chess?
Definitely. Chess teaches:
• Thinking ahead – Planning, not just reacting.
• Patience – Rushing won’t get you far.
• Handling failure – You lose, you learn, you play again.
• Focus – No distractions, just the game.
• Problem-solving – Every position is a new challenge.
• Creativity – It’s not just logic; it’s imagination too.
• Confidence – You trust yourself to make decisions.
• Resilience – Mistakes happen. Keep going.
Chess sticks with you—on and off the board.
What is the most valuable lesson chess has taught you in life?
To be there. To stay strong. To keep going. Failing isn’t the problem. The problem is failing to fail.
What are the values you want to pass on to the next generation?
Life is exciting and hard at the same time. That’s the right balance. That’s one of the reasons we learn this game.
Are there any unique programs, approaches, or partnerships you’ve developed that others might learn from?
Not yet, but I have ideas. 💡
What advice would you give to someone who wants to introduce chess in their school or community but doesn’t know where to start?
I’d say just start. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can’t plan everything. Have an idea, put it into action, and try it out.
Get feedback. Improve, change, adapt. See what works for different groups and what doesn’t. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Play yourself. Let the kids play. Learn from the endless resources out there. I’ve learned so much about chess from YouTube alone. Chess is expanding—it’s even considered an eSport now. Can you imagine?
Start. Try. That’s all.