Dr Madara

5 (33 reviews)

Rate $71
Response 1h
Students
Number of students Dr Madara has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
50+
Number of students Dr Madara has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

5 (33 reviews)

$71/hr

Chess

Experienced Candidate Master Tutor Offering Chess Lessons for Children and Adults in London and Online

Chess

Lesson location

- online

Ambassador

One of our best tutors. Quality profile, experience in their field, verified qualifications and a great response time. Dr Madara will be happy to arrange your first Chess lesson.

About Dr Madara

I have over 30 years of experience playing chess and am a Candidate Master of Latvia, with an international FIDE rating of 2058, an English Chess Federation (ECF) rating of 2120 in classical (slow) chess, and an online rating of 2300+ on (concealed information)

As I teach children as well as adults, I hold an Enhanced DBS certificate with Update Service membership and have completed the NSPCC Child Protection Training for Tutors, a specialist safeguarding course provided by a leading UK child-protection charity.

My competitive achievements include first place in the London Classic Women and Girls Rapidplay (2019). I have qualified for the UK Women’s Blitz Championships on all seven occasions I participated (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026), placing second in the finals in 2018 and third in 2019. I also placed third in the ECF Women’s Norm Event in 2022. I am currently an active competitive player, representing Lewisham Chess Club in the London League.

I graduated from Riga Chess School (1993–2009) and hold a professional education degree in chess, as well as a PhD in Psychology. My background in Psychology informs my teaching approach and helps me support students’ focus, learning strategies, and decision-making skills - particularly children and developing players.

I began teaching chess in Latvia, working with primary school children and adult learners, and developed a strong passion for helping students progress. Since 2016, I have taught over 500 children and adults in London and online, helping students improve their understanding of chess, develop competitive skills, and qualify for tournaments such as the Gigafinal and the London Junior Chess Championships.

In addition to teaching, I am a qualified ECF Level 1 arbiter and have served as an organiser for the South East London Grand Prix London Junior Chess Championships Qualifiers in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

In my lessons, I teach core chess concepts, strategy, and tactics for beginners, while supporting intermediate and advanced players to improve game technique, calculation skills, and planning. By combining my chess expertise with Psychology knowledge, I help students think ahead, understand positions more deeply, and gain confidence in their decision-making at the board.

About the lesson

Available lesson times for an online class:
• Monday: 7-8 pm, 8-9 pm
• Tuesday: 8-9 pm
• Thursday: 7-8 pm, 8-9 pm
• Friday: 6-7 pm, 8-9 pm
• Saturday: 10 am, 1 pm or later
• Sunday: 9-10 am, 1-2 pm, 2-3 pm, 6 pm or later

Morning/early afternoon times are possible too, please enquire.

Available lesson times for an in-person class:

• Wednesday 3 pm or later

I offer student-centred chess lessons for both children and adults. I am patient, friendly, and understanding, and I aim to ensure that each student feels comfortable, enjoys the lesson, and builds confidence in their chess skills.
I also organise chess tournaments for my young students to track their progress and help plan future lessons.
Currently, I conduct online lessons on Zoom and the Lichess platform mainly, and in person lessons only on Wednesdays in a public place around Central London. If you would like face-to-face lessons, I recommend contacting chess tutor Jude, who is also on Superprof.

Reviews

All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience had by the students of Dr Madara.

5 (33 reviews)

H

Himashi
- 5
Perfect! What a lovely, kind and patient tutor. Our daughter is extremely comfortable with her and likes that she takes it at her pace.
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H

Himashi

Perfect! What a lovely, kind and patient tutor. Our daughter is extremely comfortable with her and likes that she takes it at her pace.
E

Elisabeth
- 5
Perfect! I learnt an enormous amount.
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E

Elisabeth

Perfect! I learnt an enormous amount.
S

Sam
- 5
Perfect! Superb lesson, especially considering it was the first class together for my 7 year old.
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S

Sam

Perfect! Superb lesson, especially considering it was the first class together for my 7 year old.
S

Salene
- 5
Perfect! My 10 year old son enjoyed his lesson. The tutor was professional and great with children. An hour flexible by!
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S

Salene

Perfect! My 10 year old son enjoyed his lesson. The tutor was professional and great with children. An hour flexible by!
P

Peter
- 5
Perfect! I've had a few chess lessons with Madara and I really look forward to them. It's a comfortable pace and we review some of the games I played between lessons.
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P

Peter

Perfect! I've had a few chess lessons with Madara and I really look forward to them. It's a comfortable pace and we review some of the games I played between lessons.
JAMIE
- 5
Perfect! Friendly, open and considerate of my level. Gave me appropriate responses.
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JAMIE

Perfect! Friendly, open and considerate of my level. Gave me appropriate responses.
H

Harry
- 5
Perfect! Very informative and friendly. Looking forward to our next lesson.
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H

Harry

Perfect! Very informative and friendly. Looking forward to our next lesson.
A

Asya
- 5
Perfect! I love it with Dr Madara! She is very patient, she understands my goals and she explains everything so clearly! I’m already able to think much more strategically, and I’m doing much better against real opponents thanks to her! She also has a very good energy, so her lessons are always a highlight of my day!
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A

Asya

Perfect! I love it with Dr Madara! She is very patient, she understands my goals and she explains everything so clearly! I’m already able to think much more strategically, and I’m doing much better against real opponents thanks to her! She also has a very good energy, so her lessons are always a highlight of my day!
F

Farah
- 5
Perfect! Dr Madara is a patient, encouraging and skilled tutor. My children have developed a passion for chess since working with her. We are delighted to have found her!
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F

Farah

Perfect! Dr Madara is a patient, encouraging and skilled tutor. My children have developed a passion for chess since working with her. We are delighted to have found her!
C

Camilla
- 5
Perfect! I so enjoyed my lesson with Madara . She was so cheerful and everything was very clear and easy to understand . Can’t wait to have another lesson .
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C

Camilla

Perfect! I so enjoyed my lesson with Madara . She was so cheerful and everything was very clear and easy to understand . Can’t wait to have another lesson .
P

Paul
- 5
Perfect! Discussed a small selection of openings. Communication was excellent and immediate answers to my questions that adequate sense and were personal gains for me.
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P

Paul

Perfect! Discussed a small selection of openings. Communication was excellent and immediate answers to my questions that adequate sense and were personal gains for me.
J

Jil
- 5
Perfect! very sympathetic and encouraging
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J

Jil

Perfect! very sympathetic and encouraging
M

Max
- 5
Perfect! Madare is an excellent teacher. My 7 year old is always engaged during the lessons and learns a lot.
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M

Max

Perfect! Madare is an excellent teacher. My 7 year old is always engaged during the lessons and learns a lot.
D

Diane
- 5
Perfect! Madara has a very calm and warm personality. She has been very patient with Theo as he has not been the easiest of pupils.
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D

Diane

Perfect! Madara has a very calm and warm personality. She has been very patient with Theo as he has not been the easiest of pupils.
A

Ana
- 5
Perfect! Friendly, had good explanation
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A

Ana

Perfect! Friendly, had good explanation
Y

Yassir
- 5
Perfect! Very calm and clear in her instructions
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Y

Yassir

Perfect! Very calm and clear in her instructions
Craig
- 5
Perfect! Great first lesson. Straight into the heart of chess and strategies to make my games immediately better. Looking forward to getting on to Chess.com tonight to see how I fare and look at increasing my score. Going to get some thoughts around work I can do between lessons to enhance my games too and looking forward to booking the next lesson. Thanks!
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Craig

Perfect! Great first lesson. Straight into the heart of chess and strategies to make my games immediately better. Looking forward to getting on to Chess.com tonight to see how I fare and look at increasing my score. Going to get some thoughts around work I can do between lessons to enhance my games too and looking forward to booking the next lesson. Thanks!
Alita
- 5
Perfect! Brilliant. Had my son engaged all the time. My son ended the class full of energy and wishing to play more and more
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Alita

Perfect! Brilliant. Had my son engaged all the time. My son ended the class full of energy and wishing to play more and more
Q

Queenie
- 5
Perfect! Madara is very nice and patient. My daughter enjoyed her class a lot and has acquired new chess skills.
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Q

Queenie

Perfect! Madara is very nice and patient. My daughter enjoyed her class a lot and has acquired new chess skills.
A

Anelia
- 5
Perfect! Madara is very patient, kind and has a wonderful approach with children. My 8-year-old is looking forward to every lesson with her and started improving very fast. I recommend her with both hands!
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A

Anelia

Perfect! Madara is very patient, kind and has a wonderful approach with children. My 8-year-old is looking forward to every lesson with her and started improving very fast. I recommend her with both hands!
G

Gary
- 5
Perfect! My 5 year old looks forward to every chess class with Madara. She is very patient and has the rare ability of simplifying complex things and making it fun!
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G

Gary

Perfect! My 5 year old looks forward to every chess class with Madara. She is very patient and has the rare ability of simplifying complex things and making it fun!
A

Aloha
- 5
Perfect! Madara is a wonderful Chess teacher!!! She is patient, kind and very good at teaching at my level.
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A

Aloha

Perfect! Madara is a wonderful Chess teacher!!! She is patient, kind and very good at teaching at my level.
L

Lucinda
- 5
Perfect! Madara tutors my 10 year old son chess and he is absolutely loving his lessons. She is so patient and really engages with him and he learns so much. Thoroughly recommend !
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L

Lucinda

Perfect! Madara tutors my 10 year old son chess and he is absolutely loving his lessons. She is so patient and really engages with him and he learns so much. Thoroughly recommend !
Paul
- 4
Excellent! Great first lesson. My tech platform could improve
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Paul

Excellent! Great first lesson. My tech platform could improve
B

Belén
- 5
Perfect! Madara is a great teacher. My 5 years old niece has loved her chess classes with her. I totally recommend her
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B

Belén

Perfect! Madara is a great teacher. My 5 years old niece has loved her chess classes with her. I totally recommend her
J

Jade
- 4
Excellent! Our child enjoys the learning and Madara has been very patience and kind to the child. We really like her to come.
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J

Jade

Excellent! Our child enjoys the learning and Madara has been very patience and kind to the child. We really like her to come.
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Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher

Nicole

Madara helped me with my statistical analyses for my thesis and I honestly wish I would have found her sooner. She is so calm and kind which really put me at ease. My analyses were quite complex (several mixed factorial analyses with a lot of variables) and she seemed to understand it so easily and was therefore able to help me make sense of it too. She doesn't just understand the basics of statistics but clearly is very good with more advanced and complex statistics too. If you're struggling or would just like some reassurance that you're on the right path then I would highly recommend her, it is so worth the investment. Thank you!
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N
Nicole
Madara helped me with my statistical analyses for my thesis and I honestly wish I would have found her sooner. She is so calm and kind which really put me at ease. My analyses were quite complex (several mixed factorial analyses with a lot of variables) and she seemed to understand it so easily and was therefore able to help me make sense of it too. She doesn't just understand the basics of statistics but clearly is very good with more advanced and complex statistics too. If you're struggling or would just like some reassurance that you're on the right path then I would highly recommend her, it is so worth the investment. Thank you!
V

Valfy

Madara is an amazing chess tutor. She has taught all three of my children who continue to excel in chess. She is patient and children love her.
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V
Valfy
Madara is an amazing chess tutor. She has taught all three of my children who continue to excel in chess. She is patient and children love her.
Z

Zack

Madara is a very passionate and professional chess tutor and a very strong chess player herself. She is very good and patient with young kids helping to unlock their potential and rapidly progress in chess. She has a vast experience tutoring kids and adults over the past 7 years, and would strongly recommend her as a chess teacher.
Read more

Z
Zack
Madara is a very passionate and professional chess tutor and a very strong chess player herself. She is very good and patient with young kids helping to unlock their potential and rapidly progress in chess. She has a vast experience tutoring kids and adults over the past 7 years, and would strongly recommend her as a chess teacher.
J

Jude

Madara is a Psychologist & also a highly skilled internationally recognised woman chess player/coach & experienced chess tutor who can quickly determine the level & the ability of the student. Then she uses her teaching techniques effectively to meet the student's requirements to make them understand & succeed in their chess career.

Congratulations to her for coaching students who had been performing outstandingly well during the current Mega finals & Giga finals chess tournaments.
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J
Jude
Madara is a Psychologist & also a highly skilled internationally recognised woman chess player/coach & experienced chess tutor who can quickly determine the level & the ability of the student. Then she uses her teaching techniques effectively to meet the student's requirements to make them understand & succeed in their chess career.

Congratulations to her for coaching students who had been performing outstandingly well during the current Mega finals & Giga finals chess tournaments.
Jude

Madara is a very experienced & highly qualified tutor who put in a lot of effort & care to guide her students to pass. Every day, she is there before the lesson starts, very reliable. I recommend her being the best psychology tutor, soon to be the best on Superprof.
Thanks.
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J
Jude
Madara is a very experienced & highly qualified tutor who put in a lot of effort & care to guide her students to pass. Every day, she is there before the lesson starts, very reliable. I recommend her being the best psychology tutor, soon to be the best on Superprof.
Thanks.
Jude

She taught me some simple tactics which helped a lot to improve my game. Madara has a great knowledge about chess openings, middle games and endings. She is very helpful and patient teacher.
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J
Jude
She taught me some simple tactics which helped a lot to improve my game. Madara has a great knowledge about chess openings, middle games and endings. She is very helpful and patient teacher.
Nargiza

I am very lucky to have met Madara, while I needed help with SPSS. She was very responsive and helpful! Nothing was too much for her, she was always here to help and explain. I have managed to finish my thesis on time and the SPSS part was amazing! I would like to thank you and wish you a good luck!
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N
Nargiza
I am very lucky to have met Madara, while I needed help with SPSS. She was very responsive and helpful! Nothing was too much for her, she was always here to help and explain. I have managed to finish my thesis on time and the SPSS part was amazing! I would like to thank you and wish you a good luck!
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Rates

Rate

Pack prices

5h: $354
10h: $708

travel fee

+ $30

online

$71/h

Details

In person lessons are only available on Wednesdays in Central London or other nearby London location and the fee is £60/h. The fee for an online lesson is £30/h.

Learn more about Dr Madara

When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?
I started to practice playing chess at the age of 6 as my school had chess in the regular curriculum and I also enrolled in the chess club. I was pretty good from the beginning and I had a lot of friends in the chess club which I found fun. I loved to go to chess tournaments and camps and particularly enjoyed trips abroad to represent my country internationally.
Which artists or works affect you the most?
In terms of famous chess players, I like those who have creative and dynamic chess style, such as Mikhail Tal.
What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?
Interest, motivation to learn and succeed, perseverance, good concentration, resilience in hard positions, and ability to overcome the loss
What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?
Move on step by step and appreciate your progress, and one day when you have completed your work, you will be proud of what your achievements.
How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?
It makes me feel happy and alive
What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?
Tournaments/camps I and colleges have organised so far, and lesson curriculum and materials I have created.
Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?
Yes, I had some very young students who showed amazing talent at the age of 4 and 6. The key always was that they were very interested in chess and therefore eager to learn and showed excellent ability to focus.
Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?
Be flexible, patient, improvise, and inspire from my students.

Experienced Candidate Master Tutor Offering Chess Lessons for Children and Adults in London and Online

Lesson location

Ambassador

About Dr Madara

About the lesson

Reviews

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

travel fee

online

Details

Learn more about Dr Madara

Learn more about Dr Madara

When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

Which artists or works affect you the most?

What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?

What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

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