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Read Article →Online Chess Classes · Saudi Arabia
Live coaching from India for families in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and beyond.
Darklight Chess Academy teaches live online chess classes to children in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and across Saudi Arabia. Saudi time is 2½ hours behind India all year, so after-school lessons are easy to arrange. Lessons start from ₹1,000 per hour (about SAR 42), and the first demo class is free.
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Families in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar and across the Kingdom learn with Darklight Chess Academy online. Classes are live on a shared digital board and follow a structured curriculum from beginner to tournament level.
Saudi Arabia does not use daylight saving, so a lesson at 5:00 pm in Riyadh is 7:30 pm in India, all year.
Scheduling
Timings are flexible. Many families prefer Friday or Saturday sessions or a weekday evening. We confirm the exact slot in Saudi time when you book the demo.
Local chess
The Saudi Chess Federation is the national body, and FIDE rates international events. Online coaching does not limit where your child plays. Our tournament coaching can be built around any event your child enters.
Scheduling
Classes are booked in your local time from the slots our coaches have open. Exact days and times are confirmed with you before the free demo — we don't publish a fixed timetable, because slots depend on your time zone and the student's level.
| Time zone | Standard time | Daylight time |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (AST) No daylight saving time | UTC+3 · India is 2½ h ahead | Not observed |
| Your time | In India |
|---|---|
| Friday 4:00 pm | Friday 6:30 pm |
| Saturday 10:00 am | Saturday 12:30 pm |
| Monday 6:00 pm | Monday 8:30 pm |
Programmes
Not sure where your child fits? The free demo includes a level assessment, and we place them from there.
Competing
Our coaches include Marimuthu K represented India at the Olympiad in Greece in 2021, and Mega Chakraborty is an Asian silver medalist who represented India at the World Women Championship in 2024. Meet all our coaches.
Fees
Lessons start from ₹1,000 per hour. Fees are set in Indian rupees, so the amount you pay in Saudi riyals depends on the exchange rate on the day. As a guide only, ₹1,000 is about SAR 42 at recent rates. Siblings learning together get a discount, and the first demo class is free.
Currency figures are indicative and rounded. Ask us for the exact amount when you enquire. Full details are on the pricing page.
Choosing a Coach
| Online academy (like us) | Local chess club | Marketplace tutor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | Structured levels from beginner to tournament prep | Often informal, varies by volunteer | Depends on the individual tutor |
| Scheduling | Flexible, fitted around school and your time zone | Fixed weekly slot | Flexible, agreed per tutor |
| Coaching team | Several coaches with national and international playing experience | One or two organisers | One person |
| Playing in person | Not included; your child can still enter local events | Yes, face-to-face games | Not usually |
Many families do both: a local club for the social side, and an online academy for structured coaching. We are happy for your child to do either alongside our classes.
FAQ
Lessons start from ₹1,000 per hour, about SAR 42 at recent rates. The rupee figure is fixed, so the riyal amount varies slightly. Siblings get a discount and the demo is free.
Flexible, in Saudi time. India is 2½ hours ahead, so 5:00 pm in Riyadh is 7:30 pm in India. Many families choose Friday or Saturday or a weekday evening.
Yes, a live coach on a shared digital board in small groups or one-to-one.
Yes, from about age 5. A level assessment is part of the free demo.
Use the form on this page, which selects Saudi Arabia, or message us on WhatsApp.
More general questions — how online classes work, how often to attend, fees and tracking progress — are answered on our online chess classes page.
Free Demo Class
The demo is free with no commitment. A coach assesses the student's level, and we suggest a batch or one-to-one slot that fits your time zone.
Lessons start from ₹1,000 per hour. Siblings learning together get a discount.
Prefer to talk first? Message us on WhatsApp or use the button at the bottom of the screen.
Further Reading

How the English Chess Federation rating works for juniors: the first rating, default starting rating by age, update schedule and membership.
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What UK parents pay for chess lessons in 2026: typical hourly rates for private tutors, titled coaches and online academies, and what affects the price.
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How the UK Chess Challenge works: who can enter, age sections and how players qualify from Megafinals to the Terafinal, with 2026 stages.
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