I’ll be honest, when we first signed our son, Brian, up for chess coaching, I was not sure what to expect – can Brian sit still for more than 30 seconds? I could not have been more wrong.

Craig Willenberg at Strategy64 has been an absolute revelation. He took Brian from a non rated player to a top tier chess kiddo, and he’s still climbing. We’re going to need a bigger medal mantelpiece.

What Craig does is some kind of wizardry. He has the patience of a saint and a knack for making complex strategies click for young minds.
He manages to make endgame theory sound exciting, which, for anyone who has tried to explain it to a child, knows is a miracle on par with turning water into wine.
Brian actually looks forward to his lessons, which is more than I can say for his other homework.

You can tell this isn’t just a job for Craig; chess is in his DNA. The Willenberg name is legendary in the South African chess scene, and that deep-rooted passion and expertise shine through in every session.
He’s not just teaching moves; he’s teaching a way of thinking, a mindset that has helped Brian both on and off the board.

The whole setup is a dream for a busy parent. In person or online lessons are seamless, the communication is proactive (I never have to chase for updates!), and the training camps he organizes are the highlight of Brian’s holiday calendar.

If you’re on the fence about getting a coach, I can’t recommend Strategy64 enough. It’s been one of the best investments we’ve made.
Brian is gaining confidence, learning to think critically, and having an absolute blast doing it.