- FIDE Tier 2 Academy
- Founded 2011
- Cape Town · Online
- Curro Durbanville Partner
Who Is This For?
Find Your Chess Pathway
For Parents
Structured chess coaching for children who need confidence, discipline, focus, and a clear improvement path.
Find the Right ProgrammeFor Players
Training for ambitious players targeting rating growth, provincial selection, national events, and international qualification.
Build My Training PlanFor Schools
School Chess Programmes: coaching, curriculum support, teacher training, tournaments, reporting, and talent pathways.
Request a School ProposalTraining Pathway
From First Moves to National-Level Competition
A clear progression from beginner to elite. High Performance tiers are online, so players anywhere can advance. Private 1-on-1 coaching is available as an add-on — never required.
Foundation
Beginners learning the rules and love of the game
Board setup, piece movement, check and checkmate basics
Development
Players building tactics and strategy
Tactical vision, opening principles, and game understanding
Junior High Performance
Rated below 1500 Elo
Online — Thursdays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
Senior High Performance
Rated 1500 to below 1800 Elo
Online — Wednesdays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
Elite High Performance
Rated 1800 Elo and above
Online — Sundays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
Foundation
Beginners learning the rules and love of the game
Board setup, piece movement, check and checkmate basics
Development
Players building tactics and strategy
Tactical vision, opening principles, and game understanding
Junior High Performance
Rated below 1500 Elo
Online — Thursdays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
Senior High Performance
Rated 1500 to below 1800 Elo
Online — Wednesdays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
Elite High Performance
Rated 1800 Elo and above
Online — Sundays 18:00–18:35 (R400/month)
School Chess Programmes
Workshops, after-school clubs, and full partnerships with coaching, equipment, and reporting.
Explore school programmesOur Flagship Programmes
Programmes
Five pathways to chess excellence — choose the programme that matches your goals and level.
1-on-1 Coaching
R2,050/month
Personalised individual training with a FIDE-certified coach. Four 1-on-1 sessions plus four High Performance sessions monthly — eight sessions tailored to your goals.
Junior High Performance
R400/month
Online training for junior players rated below 1500 Elo. Interactive lessons, quick-play tournaments, and post-game analysis every Thursday 18:00–18:35.
Senior High Performance
R400/month
Advanced online training for competitive players rated 1500 to below 1800 Elo. Advanced lessons, tournament play, and detailed analysis every Wednesday 18:00–18:35.
Elite High Performance
R400/month
Elite-level online training for players rated 1800+ Elo. Deep theoretical preparation, high-level tournament play, and master analysis every Sunday 18:00–18:35.
Club Membership
From R100/month
Join our Saturday chess club in Durbanville. Weekly sessions, monthly tournaments, game analysis, and a vibrant community. Memberships from R100/month.
Observe · Learn · Practice
A Decade of Chess Excellence
2011
Founded
30+
School Partnerships
500+
Players Trained
10+
National Champions
Coaching Credibility
Led by FIDE-Certified Coaches
Reuben Salimu
Founder & Head Coach, African Chess Lounge
Reuben Salimu is a FIDE-certified instructor and Head Coach for Chess South Africa with over a decade of experience developing chess talent across the continent. He founded African Chess Lounge in 2011 and has since coached multiple national champions, international qualifiers, and established chess programmes in over 30 schools across the Western Cape.
FIDE Instructor
Certified by the International Chess Federation
Head Coach, Chess South Africa
Leading national player development
Founded 2011
Over a decade of structured chess development
Results & Credibility
Results Built Through Systems
National champions developed through structured coaching pathways
Provincial representation across multiple age categories
International qualifiers for continental and world events
School team achievements in inter-school competitions
Consistent rating progress tracked through regular assessment
Testimonials
What Our Community Says
Real stories from students, parents, and partners.
“My son joined ACL at age 7 with no chess experience. Two years later he qualified for nationals. The structured coaching and caring environment make all the difference.”
Nomvula Dlamini
Parent — Johannesburg
“The Saturday sessions are the highlight of my week. World-class coaching, genuinely welcoming community. I've improved my rating by 300 points in 18 months.”
James van der Merwe
Club Member — Cape Town
“ACL gave my daughter more than chess skills — she gained confidence, discipline, and made lifelong friends. Coach Reuben's passion for the game is infectious.”
Fatima Essop
Parent — Durbanville
Saturday Chess Club
Join the Saturday Chess Club
Every Saturday at Curro Durbanville Primary. Casual games, coaching input, analysis, speed chess, and tournament preparation for all levels.
- Every Saturday, 14:00–17:00
- Curro Durbanville Primary
- Casual games, coaching & analysis
- All levels welcome
Casual Games
All skill levels welcome
Speed Chess
Blitz & rapid formats
Game Analysis
Learn from every move
Tournament Prep
Competition ready
Schools & Institutions
School Chess Programmes
Coaching
Structured coaching delivered on-site at your school
Curriculum Support
Curriculum-aligned chess programmes for primary and high schools
Teacher Training
Equip your staff to sustain chess activities long-term
Competitions
Inter-school tournaments and competitive pathways for school teams
Start the Right Chess Pathway
Every path starts with one step. Book a trial lesson with a FIDE-recognised coach today.