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 Vitali Baranouski from Ireland
I’ve known Vitali for many years, from the ECU training courses and monthly Discussion Group Meetings. What has always stood out to me is his passion for teaching. As the founder of EQ Chess School in Dublin, he has built a welcoming space where children and adults can discover the joy of learning through chess. What also makes Vitali unique is his habit of self-reflection and his dedication to lifelong learning, qualities that continually enrich him as an educator and inspire those around him.
My Story with Chess and Teaching
My name is Vitali Baranouski, and I run EQ Chess School in Dublin. I teach group classes for kids of all ages and levels, and more recently, I’ve started working with South Dublin County to provide short beginner courses for adults in Dublin libraries.
My background is a mix of education and chess. I originally graduated as a teacher of English and Belarusian literature in Minsk and worked as a teacher there. Later, life brought me to Ireland, where I also qualified as an Accounting Technician and worked my way up to a management role in credit control. But when COVID hit in 2020, I decided to return to what I’ve always loved, teaching and chess. That’s how EQ Chess School was born.
How did you become interested in chess?
I was drawn to chess at the age of five, thanks to my dad, who showed me how to move the pieces. My passion grew, and by the time I was around nine years old, my mother enrolled me in a special chess school in Minsk, where I attended intensive sessions several times a week. There, I discovered the beauty of the slow, thoughtful process of the game. We were never rushed. I learned to solve difficult puzzles set by my teacher and gave my very best in every single game.
I especially enjoyed long classical games. During that time, I reached the peak of my playing strength and became one of the best in Minsk and in the whole country. However, the pressure also became overwhelming. At a young age, under constant stress and competition, I came close to a nervous breakdown. My parents decided to pull me out of competitive chess for the sake of my health. Unfortunately, after that break, I never regained the same playing form and was unable to reach the same sporting results again.
Still, chess never left me. Even at university, I played for my university chess team, and later, after immigrating to Ireland, I joined the famous Dublin United Arts Chess Club, competing in the high leagues. As people say, you might leave chess, but chess will never leave you. In my case, this was absolutely true.
How has your journey as a chess educator begun?
I actually started teaching chess quite late, in my mid-thirties. It began casually, helping kids in a local library on Saturdays. But the real turning point came in 2020. During lockdown, interest in chess exploded. Everyone was stuck at home, and chess was the perfect activity: easy to play online, educational and far better received by parents than most computer games. The release of the Queen’s Gambit series only accelerated this boom, pushing chess into the spotlight worldwide.
My wife encouraged me, reminding me that I was not only a strong chess player but also a qualified teacher of English with experience in education. She suggested that I combine those strengths and start proper chess classes. So, we tried. We began by organising small group lessons in one of the rooms of our house and advertising them online via Facebook. That first group had only six students, but it quickly grew.
In just a few years, the school expanded to beginner groups with 25 students and a couple of advanced-level groups with 40 students in each group. Today, I also work with an assistant who helps with discipline and new activities, and we continue to develop our online presence through Facebook and Instagram.
As the classes became well-known in the Lucan area of Dublin, we started attracting attention from the wider community. Local politicians from the Labour Party, Fianna Fail began visiting our events. Their visits gave chess more visibility and boosted the school’s reputation even further. Thanks to these connections, I was later invited to run chess courses for adults in the local libraries. The libraries themselves approached me after hearing positive recommendations from the politicians who had seen my work first-hand.
What inspired you to start using chess as an educational tool?
When I first started teaching, I quickly realised knowing chess wasn’t enough. I needed to improve and upgrade my teaching skills continuously, so I began exploring every available educational resource and training courses. To succeed as a teacher, you must present chess as an educational tool.
This understanding came from my own childhood. I wasn’t naturally strong in mathematics, but when I trained intensively at the special chess school in Minsk, everything changed. Chess taught me how to focus deeply, stay disciplined and persist with complex problems until I found solutions. Within a couple of years, my mathematics results at school improved dramatically, and I became one of the best in my area of the capital.
To get better at teaching, I dug into every resource I could find. I began exploring platforms like ChessKid, Chess.com, ChessBase, and YouTube. I also subscribed to chess magazines such as Chess Magazine, ChessBase Magazine, and American Chess Magazine, and read widely across chess textbooks and professional literature. I discovered valuable podcasts and books about teaching chess, especially those that showed how to use it to strengthen children’s mathematical and geometrical abilities.
Most of these resources focused on chess content rather than pedagogy. What I truly needed was training on how to teach chess to different children. That’s when I discovered the European Chess Union (ECU) courses, which were exactly what I was missing. I enrolled in everything available: monthly discussions, online trainings, and certified programs. They gave me the structure and confidence to develop a teaching style that is both professional and educational, benefiting children far beyond the chessboard.
What challenges have you faced as a chess educator and in running your chess school?
To be honest, the hardest part has been turning something I love into a real, professional activity. Teaching isn’t just about knowing chess; it takes hours of preparation and a lot of energy to keep kids engaged week after week. On top of that, running a school is its own challenge: kids grow up, move on, and new ones come in, so keeping groups steady isn’t easy. And while more people now see the benefits of chess, many still think of it as “just a game,” so proving its real value can be an uphill climb.
What makes you keep going? How do you keep your teaching practice fresh and up to date?
My first motivation is simple: I’ve loved chess since I was five. I’ve always enjoyed the slow, deep thinking and the satisfaction of making progress step by step. The second is my love for teaching. Even before chess, when I taught languages, I knew how much I valued working with students and helping them learn. Bringing those two passions together feels natural and very fulfilling.
I also think back to my childhood in Minsk, when it was so hard to get hold of good chess books or magazines. Now there’s an incredible abundance from top publishers and magazines to YouTube channels like GothamChess and Agadmator, and that constant flow of ideas keeps me inspired. Most of all, though, it’s the kids themselves who motivate me. Watching them improve, get excited, and even teach each other is incredibly rewarding, and it pushes me to keep lessons fresh with new formats like tactical corners, showcases of student games, book introductions, and online tournaments.
Plans for the future? What are your long-term goals?
It is not always easy to make long-term plans in chess, because I see it not just as an activity but also as a business that should be both meaningful and financially sustainable. Only in recent years has chess truly started to be seen as a potentially profitable business, which opens new opportunities.
- Business development
If growth continues, my main long-term aim is to promote chess in schools as an extra activity, ideally with government involvement and support. This would create a strong and sustainable business model. Alongside this, I would like to expand EQ Chess School by opening new branches in other parts of Dublin, especially in developing areas with many young families and new housing estates. - Expanding to new audiences
Beyond children, I see potential in offering chess programs for adults and even seniors. While more complex and less straightforward than children’s classes, these groups can still benefit greatly from chess, and there is likely some business potential in this area. - Professional development
On a personal and professional level, my long-term goal is to consolidate and implement everything I have already learned. Over the past years, I have completed many courses, trainings, and certifications. Now the key is to summarise, revise, and actively apply this knowledge to further improve the quality of my teaching and programs. - Chess camps and physical development
One project I am especially excited about is organising combined chess-and-sport camps. The idea is to offer children both mental and physical development. Chess sessions to train focus and logic, combined with physical activities such as callisthenics. Parents appreciate holistic development, and this model would give children the chance to grow both intellectually and physically. To support this, I would also like to pursue coaching qualifications in callisthenics or another sport that I enjoy.
How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is simple: be structured and work hard. I like to plan lessons carefully, because when there’s a clear structure, both kids and teachers enjoy the process more. I often tell my students, “Work creates results, and results create the will to learn.” Steady effort and focus always bring progress.
In my classes, that means moving from theory to examples to practice. This way, every lesson feels organised and rewarding, and students leave with real improvement. For me, this mindset applies not only to chess but to life in general. With discipline and persistence, any goal is achievable.
And above all, I’ll keep learning myself. Reflecting, improving, and staying curious. Because for me, teaching and learning always go hand in hand.
What is the most valuable lesson chess has taught you?
For me, chess has always proven one thing: if you put in the work, you get results. It’s the same in life: you don’t need to be naturally talented, but if you stay focused and disciplined, you’ll make progress. That lesson guides my teaching and my life.
What values do you want to pass on to the next generation?
Through chess, I want my students to learn patience, focus, resilience, and the value of hard work. Mistakes aren’t failures; they’re part of the process. If kids carry these lessons into other areas of life, I know chess has done its job.
Are there any unique programs, approaches, initiatives or partnerships you’ve developed that others might learn from?
Over the years, I’ve developed a few programs I’m really proud of. We have the “Chess God Corner,” where kids solve puzzles online with an assistant. It keeps them engaged and practising even at home. Each term, we also run a “Game of the Term” showcase, highlighting student games to show that great chess isn’t just in books. Another favourite is the Opening Challenge Tournament, where kids try out new openings and gambits in a fun, competitive way.
Beyond the classroom, I’ve built partnerships with local politicians and even done radio spots, which has helped promote chess in the community. I also use ChessKid.com for structured practice and hold regular Zoom workshops with parents to guide them on resources and training. Looking ahead, I’d love to sponsor local sports teams to show how chess and physical activity go hand in hand. All of this creates a fuller experience for the kids. Not just lessons, but a real chess community
What advice would you give to someone starting their own chess business?
Starting a chess business isn’t easy. There’s so much material out there, and without a clear program, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There’s also no set curriculum, especially for advanced players, so structuring lessons takes time. On top of that, students come and go, and you’re competing with sports, schoolwork, and family activities, so retention can be tricky.
It also demands long hours — evenings, weekends, competitions — and plenty of energy. My advice is to start small: test the idea, maybe rent a room, and see how kids respond. Or try a group in a library, see how it goes, and build from there. It takes patience and persistence, but if you love chess and teaching, it’s worth it.